Cyprus House
8 October 2024
Excellencies, dear guests, compatriots, ladies and gents,
Allow me to warmly welcome you here today to celebrate with us the National Day of the Republic of Cyprus.
As it is done on such occasions, I will try to take stock of the 64 years since the establishment of the Republic and touch upon the relations with the host country.
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A national day should be a day of celebrations.
However, I ponder how can we truly celebrate when “our world is in a whirlwind […] – facing challenges unlike any we have ever seen – challenges that demand global solutions. Yet geo-political divisions keep deepening. […] Wars rage with no clue how they will end. And nuclear posturing and new weapons cast a dark shadow. We are edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world”. I have quoted from the speech of the UN Secretary General (UNSG) before UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 24 September 2024. I could go saying: when our immediate neighborhood in the East Southern Mediterranean is in flames; when the continent we belong to experiences its worse military conflict since the end of the World War II; when the Cyprus issue remains unresolved for half a century! How can we celebrate?!
Like most career diplomats, my attention was at the UNGA last month listening to the speeches of leaders. I chose to pick some quotes from the UN SG who said some trues which for some reason keep on evading us in dealing with them drastically.
He said “First, the state of our world is unsustainable. We can’t go on like this. And second, the challenges we face are solvable. But that requires us to make sure the mechanisms of international problem-solving actually solve problems. Getting there requires confronting three major drivers of unsustainability. A world of impunity – where violations and abuses threaten the very foundation of international law and the UN Charter. A world of inequality – where injustices and grievances threaten to undermine countries or even push them over the edge. And a world of uncertainty – where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways. These worlds of impunity, inequality and uncertainty are connected and colliding”.
However, these challenges which the UNSG described, show that we need more able people with integrity in positions in power.
As a European country that geography place us in the Mideast, Cyprus built on the longstanding bonds of friendship and trust with our neighbors. Trying to fullfil our duty as an anchor of stability in a turbulent area, as the European Union’s farthest lighthouse in the South Eastern Mediterranean, we offered the Amalthea maritime corridor to the international community. “A lifeline of hope and humanity”, as my President put it.
This is the Cyprus we strive to be.
Cyprus Problem
This year, on July 20th, we mourned 50 years since the tragic events that led to Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus. Fifty years, half a century, of continuing Turkish occupation of approximately 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Of continuous violation of the UN Charter, international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law.
President Christodoulides made it clear in his speech at the UNGA last month that he is “determined to continue exerting all efforts to resume negotiations for a viable solution to the Cyprus issue, within the only framework: the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that call for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, and fully in line with EU law, values and principles.”
The negotiations for a Cyprus settlement, unfortunately, reached a standstill after our last attempt in 2017. There is some movement now: the efforts of my government resulted finally in the appointment of a UNSG special envoy last January and a Trilateral Meeting with the UN Secretary-General is scheduled for next week in New York.
We count on the support of the United Kingdom, as one of the guarantor powers for Cyprus and a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, to help us reach a solution at last that reunifies our country.
Despite the challenges Republic of Cyprus has managed to prosper and achieve remarkable progress and achievements due to the resilience and handwork of its people. The macroeconomic indicators place us well above the average of the EU.
Economy
The growth performance of Cyprus over the last decade has been significant, and even exceeded international expectations with annual GDP growth of over 3%, with successive credit rating upgrades, and praising reports. Cyprus expects the debt-to-GDP ratio to drop below the Maastricht Treaty’s 60% threshold by 2026.
As the business landscape changes rapidly, a national strategy has been launched to transform the island into a regional hub for fast-growing sectors, such as Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), education, healthcare and renewable energy.
Bilateral relations with the UK
During the crusades, the fleet of Richard the lionheart reached the shores of Cyprus in 1 May 1191, on their way to the Holy Lands; and “accidently” conquered us for a brief period of time; the first time at least. The second time we met again in 1878 when they grasped the administration of the island from the hands of the Ottoman ruler at the time and eventually transformed the island another British colony. Therefore, we can claim we know each other for quite some time.
Nowadays, in the 21st century, we want to believe that bilateral relations are going from strength to strength. In the words of the recently elected British Prime Minister “our relationship is invaluable”! Our historic ties, evident in the deep connections that exist at all levels of our societies and governments, with people-to-people contacts, the respective diasporas and the plethora of areas within which cooperation is pursued, are the foundation for an ever-closer partnership between our countries in the future.
Next Monday, the President of the Republic will be meeting with the Prime Minister of the UK and we hope that it will be the start of a fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship. Already our two countries work hand-in-hand in dealing with challenges in the Middle East; and Cyprus – a beacon of stability in an area full of crises, has been a temporal safe haven for evacuations from the region, as far as Sudan.
A first meeting between our two leaders, which takes place after a historic political agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago. I have to say that the government of Keir Starmer raises the hopes of partners like us quite high.
Trade
The UK is one of the most important economic partners for Cyprus, with the foreign direct investment between the two countries exceeding 22 billion euro. The UK is also the biggest export market for Cypriot products which absorbs more than 8% of the total exports of the island. In the last 30 years, the economic relations between Cyprus and the UK were built upon more traditional sectors such as tourism & hospitality, shipping & transport, real estate, and at a later stage, financial, insurance and other professional services.
Tourism
Cyprus is a holiday destination. That is our biggest industry. Our hospitality is our greatest asset. In 2024, arrivals recorded from Britain were up 4.1% from the same period of 2023. More than one million tourists arrive from the UK to Cyprus per year and six airlines fly to Cyprus from 18 different UK airports.
Cypriot Community in the UK
A final word for our strong Cypriot community in the UK.
With hard work and persistence, they became an important part of the society with positive input in the socio-political life and always strived for building and maintaining relations with representatives of all of the governments that passed from Downing Street.
At the same time, the Cypriot community here tries its best to remain true to its roots, its traditions and values. And never losing courage in our just cause in finding a just and lasting solution, which will reunify the island.
All the above would be of no substance if our diaspora did not have the conscious determination to maintain and convey the ties and love for Cyprus to the next generations. For this alone, I feel is my obligation to extend to all of them my warmest and strongest congratulations. I am very proud of you!
And with these final words, I would like to thank you all for your attention.