"After 43 years of division, we need more than ever actions that build trust and bridges between Cypriots - Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins - and not actions that create mistrust and consolidate division," said President Nikos Anastasia.
President Anastasiadis on Tuesday awarded the Medal of Excellence to German MEP Reimer Beke at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, expressing deep gratitude for his service to the interests of Cyprus and the Cypriot people.
The President said that the medal was a sign of the appreciation and recognition of the sincere devotion shown by Mr Beke throughout his term as Member of the European Parliament and in particular as a member of the Committee on Budgets.
Addressing the MEP by his first name, as he said he had known him for many years and considered him a friend, the President said that Reimer was discreet but effective in the forefront of efforts to provide Community funding under the regulation adopted in 2006. to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus and its people, to provide funding to the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP). He noted that the MEP has worked closely with the Cypriot MEPs for the common purpose, promoting the interests of Cyprus and its people.
In his greeting, the President noted that it is worth noting that more than 11 million euros from the EU budget have been distributed in recent years for the restoration of more than 66 cultural and religious monuments of great importance to all communities in Cyprus. As for the Commission on Missing Persons (CMP), the amount allocated from the EU budget between 2006-2017 is almost 20m euros, he said.
The President of the Republic went on to say that the MEP selflessly defended the work of these Committees, precisely because he is strongly aware of the fact that in order to regain trust, the walls of distrust must fall, the wounds must be healed and bridges must be built.
The work of the Committees, he noted, is undoubtedly at the heart of building trust between the communities in Cyprus and the Committees are a key factor in promoting a climate conducive to achieving a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem that will reunite the country and the people as a functional one. sustainable and modern EU state, a state that can be a model of coexistence and tolerance.
Presenting the medal to the MEP, the President told him that in his face Cyprus found a true and valuable friend. On behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, the Cypriot people and myself, he noted, I express my deepest appreciation and gratitude for your excellent contribution to the promotion of the interests of Cyprus and its people.
In his rebuttal, the German MEP, whose wife is Cypriot, a member of the Maronite community, expressed his sincere thanks, saying that everything he did he did from the bottom of his heart, feeling Cyprus as his second home. He stated that he always had the support of the Cypriot MEPs, making special reference to Giannakis Matsis, Panagiotis Dimitriou and Ioannis Kasoulidis.
Mr. Beke noted that he always believed that all projects related to the cultural heritage of Cyprus and the missing could be the path through which the greatest goal of reunification could be helped.
He referred to his acquaintance with President Anastasiadis at a meeting of the EPP in 2005, when he was President of DISY, saying that at that meeting he informed him in great detail and in an impressive way about the problem of Cyprus and the need to end the occupation. He said that many times, even in the case of the economic crisis, public opinion in Germany and elsewhere can not understand the real dimension because it has no knowledge of the situation and does not know well where Cyprus is.
Mr Beke said he could understand the problem of the missing as he experienced similar situations in his family, adding that he was happy to be able to contribute to the CMP's work by releasing funds. He also spoke about his wife who fought and is fighting for the rights of her homeland, Cyprus, and noted that he admires her for her struggles and passion.
Finally, he said that tolerance must be the deepest meaning of the EU and that everyone must try to see things through the eyes of others.
Source: KYPE
Source: RIK News