President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis. File photoATHENA, Apr 24The President of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiades, in his Easter televised address, called for the unification of the island. «With a sincere feeling of friendship, I address our Turkish Cypriot compatriots tonight. This homeland is yours and ours. Blood was shed for this homeland, for this country we suffered, we cried, sometimes together, and sometimes apart. The pain has always been the same for everyone. And it is this pain that determines how similar and equal people are. To what extent mutual respect for the rights of everyone is the only basis for coexistence, co-creation for lasting prosperity and peace,» Anastasiades said. I believe that the time has come for our love for our common homeland to enable us to correct the injustice inflicted on us by the partition (the islands) Only the two communities, as well as all those involved in the Cyprus problem, will benefit if, by abandoning unattainable goals, we consciously and honestly we will work to build a state that will not lag behind the principles and values of other states of the European Union,» the president said. According to him, the basis for the decision was agreed and fixed in dozens of UN resolutions.»What is needed is political will, genuine political will and joint efforts to establish a state,» said Anastasiades. «On behalf of the Greek Cypriot side, I reiterate our readiness to work resolutely towards achieving lasting peace and lasting prosperity for all,” said the President of Cyprus. He also said that the Cypriot people are facing other challenges and he would like to send a message of hope and optimism, assuring that the government is determined to work with political forces and social partners to take those measures that will contribute to the mitigation, but also the final overcoming of the new economic crisis. «Today's message does not concern the work of the government. However, in the last months of my presidency, I consider it absolutely necessary to turn to the political forces and call on them to join efforts,» the president said .In February 2023, the presidential elections will be held in Cyprus competitions in which Anastasiadis, who headed Cyprus in 2013, is not going to participate.The Cypriot authorities have changed the rules for entering the country for touristsCyprus problemCyprus has been de facto divided between the Greek and Turkish communities since 1974 after the armed invasion of Turkey, provoked by a coup d'état in Cyprus and an attempt to annex the island to Greece. 37% of the island's territory was occupied, on which the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was proclaimed in 1983. It was recognized only by Turkey. Negotiations between the Greek and Turkish communities on the reunification of Cyprus are being conducted through the mediation of the UN. They were interrupted after the failure of the next round, held in the Swiss town of Crans-Montana in 2017. Attempts are now being made to resume negotiations. The Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, elected in the elections on October 18, 2020, advocates a confederal structure for Cyprus, while the Greek Cypriots believe that the solution to the Cyprus problem is possible only on the basis of UN decisions within the bi-zonal, bicommunal federation.
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