"Public interest and serving our citizens is paramount in performing your duties," President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday during the swearing-in ceremony of the new members of the Cabinet, following a mini reshuffle announced two days ago.
He said he expects the new ministers to be swiftly briefed about the responsibilities of their portfolio, to examine the pending issues and to make the most of the experience of their predecessors, other officials and the personnel of the public administration. The President also called on them to ensure that they have good and creative cooperation with all the state institutions, the legislative and judicial authorities, the political parties, the social partners, the various professional and other affected groups.
"My wish is that you have direct and personal contact with the public, even in the most remote village, to see and hear them, to listen to them and to do whatever is required so that as a Government, we can find solutions to problems and promote demands that are fair, justified and feasible", he said.
The President also called on them to work tirelessly, 24 hours a day, so that when the time comes for the final assessment, they will justify the expectations of the people.
President Christodoulides also recalled that the government program serves five basic priorities, with the top one being the solution of the Cyprus problem. These priorities, he went on to say, are strong defence and security, a dynamic and extroverted foreign policy with a European-Western orientation, a sound and resilient economy, modernisation of the state and continuous reforms, transparency, accountability, combating corruption and improving the daily lives of the public.
He made a brief review of what has been achieved so far since he assumed office, referring to the tax reform, the recent decision on vocational education, training, employment, and care for adults with disabilities, the upcoming reform of the pension system, the continuous digitalization of services, the modernisation of institutions, the abolition of bureaucratic procedures that serve transparency and promote accountability, as well as the effective management of migration influxes.
The President also noted that we are practically strengthening the deterrent capacity of the National Guard, upgrading and modernising our military infrastructure, and undertaking initiatives that upgrade and expand the diplomatic footprint of the Republic of Cyprus, which is now recognised as a valuable partner, reliable interlocutor, pillar of stability and bridge of cooperation between Europe and the wider region.
President Christodoulides in his speech also said that the developments of recent months, which culminated in the visit to Cyprus after 16 years of the United Nations Secretary-General and the European Commission's envoy for the Cyprus issue, justify the persistent efforts of the government since the first day of assuming office.
These efforts, he noted, are for the resumption of the peace talks based on the agreed framework, from where they left off in Crans-Montana in 2017, with respect for the negotiating acquis, the principles, the values and European law.
He noted that despite the problems, challenges and difficulties, the results so far allow us to be modestly optimistic that it is possible to cover the last mile that will lead us to the end of the occupation and reunification of our homeland.
President Christodoulides also thanked the outgoing members for their contribution and their methodical work in the implementation of the government program.
On behalf of the new members of the Cabinet, Minister of Agriculture Christos Senekis thanked the President for the highest honour, emphasising that the mandate he has assigned to them also constitutes a heavy responsibility towards the country, its institutions and its public who expect efficiency, consistency and accountability.
He said that the former members of the Cabinet left behind an important work and a valuable legacy. Senekis said that they are fully aware of the challenges the country is faced with, the requirements of each of their portfolios and the high expectations of society and the President himself.
He went on to say that their only ambition and expectation is to be able to respond to the greatest possible extent to the expectations of the public and to have left a substantial, positive imprint on the country and the governance.
