Cyprus' reputation won’t be smeared says President after sanctions meeting

We will not let anyone smear Cyprus’ reputation said President Nikos Christodoulides, following a meeting at the Presidential Palace on the US and UK sanctions imposed on Cypriot individuals and legal entities in connection with assisting Russian businessmen hide their assets following the war in Ukraine.

This was the second meeting on the issue and it was held in the presence of the Justice Minister, Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry, Attorney General and deputy Attorney General, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Cyprus Bar Association and Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

The President also vowed that those who violate the sanctions will not be protected.

Leaving the Presidential office after the meeting, the President said that all who attended are on the same page and have the same goal, which is to do everything possible not to allow anyone to smear the name of the country.

He said that we should approach this development of the sanctions as an opportunity to finish with the issue that has dragged on for far too long "once and for all’’.

Asked if the Government has received any information from the authorities in the US or the UK, Christodoulides if there was anything worth announcing he would do so.

Moreover, in statements upon his arrival at the OEB General Assembly in Nicosia, President Christodoulides noted that the meeting provided the opportunity to exchange views and all participants agreed that we will not allow anyone to smear Cyprus’ name.

He said that the state, the government and the private sector have suffered a lot from similar situations and therefore they are ready, as soon as they have all the evidence, to do whatever is necessary to protect Cyprus’ name and reputation.

Replying to a question the President said that he believes there will be more names on the sanctions’ lists either from the US, the UK, or the EU, adding once again that whatever needs to be done, will be done.

(Source: CNA)