We will do everything possible so that 2024 will be the year of liberation and reunification of Cyprus, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, on Thursday.
In his greeting, at the event for the cutting of the king cake at RIK, the President of the Republic, after expressing his wishes for 2024 "to be a good and blessed year", added that "2024 is a significant year for our country" .
As he said, "it is 50 years since the barbaric Turkish invasion, 50 years of continued occupation and on the occasion of the recent developments, as a result of our own intense effort, with the announcement of the appointment of the personal envoy of the UN Secretary General, whom we expect in Cyprus , we will do everything possible so that 2024 – and I truly believe if there is political will – will be the year of liberation and reunification of our homeland.”
President Christodoulidis also pointed out that "at the same time, 2024 marks 20 years since the most important success of the Republic of Cyprus since its foundation, our accession to the European Union in 2004, and on the occasion of this event we have already started in Brussels discussions on the future of Europe, with the occasion of the electoral process for the nomination of the new members of the European Parliament which will lead to the composition of the new Commission and the new Council".
He also said that "we have already started the preparation for the second presidency of the Council of the EU, which will be the first half of 2026, and to get even closer as a state to the EU, through specific actions, through specific policies both in the external our politics as well as in our internal politics and to be part of the hard core of the EU".
“Success in 2004,” he added, “was something that when it first started almost no one believed it could be achieved. We prove in practice with our external behavior, but also with our internal behavior, where we really belong."
Afterwards, he wished a "good pre-election year" both for the European elections and for the nomination of the members of the Local Government.
The President of the Republic said that as a Government they have been called to implement the reform of Local Self-Government, which as he said is "a big bet which I am sure that through cooperation we will succeed".
On the occasion of the election year of 2024, he addressed a message to all parliamentary parties for the readiness of the executive power, in practice, to work together.
"The problems we have to face and the challenges are neither partisan nor ideological and it is only through cooperation that we will be able to meet the expectations of the Cypriot people", noted President Christodoulidis.
In addition, he said that in this effort "RIK also plays a decisive role, as well as the private radio and television stations", to add that his weakness in the journalistic world has been a given since 2014, when he was appointed Government Spokesperson.
He expressed the certainty that "this weakness, as time passes, is strengthened even more through cooperation, through respect for your own work, your own operation, a very important function in a democratic country."
He explained, at the same time, that "we should all work together, so that we meet the expectations of the Cypriot people".
In his greeting, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Radio Foundation, Giorgos Kentas, said that the Organization is finally preparing the revision of the RIK legislation, in order to present a modern public radio and television.
As he said, "RIK must learn to be disciplined, to be accountable to control, just like the rest of the radio stations", to note that very soon they will submit the draft to the Minister of the Interior, which was a work done with the participation of the competent Ministry.
Besides, he said that the RIK has also made significant changes in internal order, explaining that they have produced a series of internal regulations and internal operations for public tenders, recruitment, contracts and other issues.
He expressed the belief that RIK "is worthy and can accomplish its mission", noting that it is not the perfect Organization, but it is trying to improve and achieve the best results.
He also expressed his thanks to the state, which provides its support to RIK, while at the same time he thanked the House of Representatives, which will soon deal with the budget.
Referring to 2024, he said that "it is a difficult year for the Organization", after adding that "we are half a century since the Turkish invasion".
He announced that the RIK has decided on a series of activities and a program, which has already begun, and they will try to carry out this mission, so that the younger generations will know the Cyprus problem.
Finally, he wished that, in the context of the new developments, "the process to resolve the Cyprus issue will begin soon, because this is our desire and destination, to restore peace, prosperity and security in our country".
In addition to the President of the Republic, the President of the Parliament, the Council of Ministers, the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General of the Republic, General Directors of the Ministries, the Commissioner of Legislation, the President of the Radio and Television Authority, as well as and officers of the RIK.