Over the years, relations between Cyprus and Slovakia have matured into a broad and substantive partnership, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Wednesday during the presentation of credentials by the new Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Cyprus, Miroslav Radačovský, at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia.
‘’Cyprus and Slovakia share a long-standing relationship founded on friendship, mutual respect and a steadfast commitment to international law, multilateral cooperation and the principles and values of the European Union (EU),’’ President Christodoulides pointed out, adding that ‘’over the years, our bilateral relations have matured into a broad and substantive partnership and I look forward to working closely with you to further deepen these very promising ties.’’
He also welcomed ‘’the growing economic and business dimension of our relationship,’’ noting that ‘’there is considerable scope to advance mutually beneficial collaboration in investment, innovation, new technologies and entrepreneurship.’’ ‘’The Doers Summit in Limassol, formerly known as the Reflect Festival, is a fine example of the bridges that can be built between our business and innovation ecosystems, bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, start-ups and young professionals,’’ he said.
‘’Our people-to-people ties are likewise flourishing. The growing number of Slovak visitors, the presence of the Slovak community in Cyprus and the strengthening of direct air connectivity between Larnaka and Bratislava are bringing our societies closer together and opening new avenues for tourism, business and human exchange,’’ he emphasised.
At the same time, President Christodoulides pointed out that ‘’our cooperation in security, crisis management and humanitarian assistance has assumed particular significance in recent years.’’ ‘’Cyprus has demonstrated its capacity to serve as a stable and reliable regional hub for evacuation and repatriation operations and for the coordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance,’’ he added.
He further noted that ‘’we greatly value Slovakia’s solidarity and practical contribution, including through its participation in the Argonaut exercise and the Amalthea Initiative’’. ‘’These efforts stand as a tangible expression of the trust that underpin our relations and I am confident that our cooperation in these fields will continue to grow from strength to strength,’’ he said.
Referring to the Cyprus issue, President Christodoulides pointed out that ‘’we welcome the current momentum under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and we remain firmly committed to a comprehensive and lasting settlement, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, international law and the principles and values of the EU.’’
He went on to say that ‘’we deeply appreciate Slovakia’s longstanding contribution to peace and stability in Cyprus, particularly its unique role in facilitating dialogue between the two communities, as well as its 25 years of participation in the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). This enduring engagement is a powerful testament to Slovakia’s commitment to peace on our island,’’ he emphasised, adding that ‘’we count on Slovakia’s continued constructive and principled engagement in support of the agreed basis of the settlement and the resumption of meaningful negotiations.’’
On his part, the Ambassador-designate of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Radačovský, pointed out that ‘’the bilateral relationship between Slovakia and Cyprus is enriched by several unique forms of cooperation that have developed over decades and continue to bring our countries closer together.’’
‘’Our relations are founded on friendship, mutual respect and a shared commitment to the principles of international law, democracy and effective multilateral cooperation,’’ he noted, adding that ‘’as member states of the European Union (EU) and the Eurozone, Slovakia and Cyprus work closely together in addressing many of the challenges facing Europe today, including security, migration, competitiveness, energy resilience and regional stability.’’
He also congratulated Cyprus on the successful completion of its Presidency of the Council of the EU, ‘’which further demonstrated the country's capacity to contribute constructively to the advancement of the European agenda during a particularly challenging period.’’
The new Slovak Ambassador went on to say that ‘’among the most distinctive dimensions of our bilateral relationship is Slovakia's long-standing support for the bicommunal dialogue between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties, which has been facilitated by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic for the past thirty-seven years.’’ ‘’Over time, this initiative has developed into a well-established platform for dialogue, mutual understanding and constructive engagement between the two communities,’’ he pointed out.
Radačovský also expressed his sincere hope that the current momentum under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) will help create favourable conditions for achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, international law and the principles and values of the EU. At the same time, he noted that Slovak peacekeepers have been serving in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus 25 years. ‘’During this period, nearly 5,000 Slovaks have served under the UN flag, contributing to peace, security and stability on the island,’’ he pointed out.
He further noted that ‘’our bilateral relationship has expanded well beyond the political sphere,’’ adding that ‘’today, it is increasingly enriched by cooperation in innovation, entrepreneurship, culture and tourism.’’
‘’During my mission in Cyprus, I will seek to further strengthen these connections and foster new opportunities for cooperation between our institutions, businesses, universities and local communities,’’ Radačovský said.
Speaking of the Doers Summit in Lemesos, he noted that ‘’over the course of its nine editions, it has become a remarkable example of Slovak– Cypriot cooperation and demonstrates the considerable potential for further strengthening links between our innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs and young professionals.’’
He also highlighted the excellent cooperation between the two countries in the areas of crisis management and humanitarian assistance. ‘’In recent years, Cyprus has repeatedly demonstrated its importance as a reliable partner and a strategic hub for evacuation and repatriation operations, as well as for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to regions affected by conflict and instability,’’ he pointed out, adding that ‘’these practical examples of cooperation reflect the high level of trust and solidarity that characterise our bilateral relations.’’
The new Slovak Ambassador also expressed his intention to place particular emphasis on supporting people-to-people contacts, adding that approximately 2,500 Slovak citizens reside in Cyprus, while more than 50,000 Slovaks visit the island every year. ‘’Their presence, together with the growing number of Slovak–Cypriot families, helps foster mutual understanding and serves as a living bridge between our societies,’’ he emphasised.
‘’As Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, I will spare no effort in further strengthening the excellent relations between our countries and in identifying new opportunities for cooperation for the benefit of our citizens,’’ he said.
