The axes of their policy in Cyprus, Economy and foreign policy, were analyzed before the expatriates by President Anastasiades, giving the message he wishes to convey to the countries where they live and operate.
The first analysis of the Government's policy was made during the opening of the 17th world conference of Cypriot expatriates, whose work began yesterday in Nicosia.
The second and more thorough one took place during a meeting between the President of the Republic and the leaders of the Cypriot expatriates.
The first point of reference for President Anastasiades is the current role of Cyprus in relation to the developments in the surrounding area. He underlined the stabilizing role played by Cyprus in the region while emphasizing the upgrading of the country's strategic importance. According to Mr. Anastasiadis, these data, in conjunction with the discovery of deposits in the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus, "offer Cyprus unique advantages that are recognized today both at the European and international level". He pointed out that this is the role of Cyprus that the Government is promoting today and invited the emigrants to propose it to the countries where they are hosted. Furthermore, the President of the Republic stated that "our country is today a stabilizing factor in the particularly important region of the Eastern Mediterranean" and declared that the policies of tightening and strengthening relations between Cyprus and Israel and with the USA will continue. He noted the importance of the development of relations with these two countries but also with all the other friendly countries of Cyprus to intervene by assisting "so that we achieve a new dynamic and mobility in dealing with the Cyprus problem".
The second reference point of the President was the Cyprus issue, where he reiterated that it is important to start negotiations which are properly prepared in order to lead to a positive result. After underlining that the process of resolving the Cyprus issue continues under the auspices of the United Nations, he emphasized at the same time that "any new process should not ignore our status as a European state and in this context the essential involvement of the EU itself is required". He further stated that there are specific positions and opinions that can lead to positive results for all, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. As far as Famagusta is concerned, he said that from the messages he receives his proposal "is internationally accepted by everyone and is interpreted as a tangible sign of our will to get Cyprus out of the current impasse". He emphasized at the same time that he does not want to give illusions that "we are close to the stage of achieving our goal".
A third point of reference was the efforts to restore the Economy, sending the message that Cyprus will manage to get back on its feet. He also addressed the needs that must be met in terms of the functioning of the state.
The developments in the Cyprus issue and the state of the economy were at the center of the greetings addressed to the expatriate conference by the leaders of the parliamentary parties. The president of DISY Averof Neofytou emphasized that "never before have we had to face so many accumulated challenges and so many impasses, both nationally and economically". The general secretary of AKEL, Andros Kyprianou, underlined that the problems in the economy burden the efforts made to solve the Cyprus problem. The president of DIKO Marios Karoyan emphasized that the main issue should be the deepening of cooperation between the political leadership and the emigrants. EDEK, EUROKO and Environmentalists in their own interventions before the emigrants expressed their opposition to the involvement of natural gas exploitation in the negotiations on the Cyprus issue.
Homer: The dangers are obvious
The president of the Parliament Giannakis Omirou referred to the criticality of the moments that Cyprus is passing through, welcoming the start of the work of the conference of expatriate Cypriots in Nicosia and pointing out that "the dangers are obvious. It requires the mobilization of forces, collective action and coordination of actions and actions. Our struggle is a struggle for life, it is a struggle for justice, and in such struggles failure is not allowed. It is our duty to assert the basic rights of our people, to highlight the true nature of the Cyprus crisis and to demand the application of the principles of International and European Law". With extensive references to the Cyprus issue and the efforts to restart negotiations to resolve the problem, Mr. Omirou also referred to the economic crisis, stating that "for the current state of the Cypriot economy, especially in the banking sector, there are huge responsibilities and certainly the attribution of responsibilities is required and bringing the culprits to justice".