President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has assured that “efforts these days are intensive and laborious, and have a steady direction and aim”, which is “the liberation and reunification” of Cyprus.

Addressing the unveiling ceremony of a memorial dedicated to Mammari community citizens who were killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion, President Anastasiades said that “our ambition is and should be to turn Cyprus into a modern state that will play an important role in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, a modern state which will cover the whole island, not only the areas which are today under the control of the Republic of Cyprus”.

He said that “this is the reason we are engaged in an intensive dialogue” with an aim to lift the Turkish occupation of the island`s northern third and reunify the country.

“We want to create conditions that will allow for peaceful coexistence. We must live together. The dangers are always there when there is a pending issue. We do not wish to allow for more dangers to arise for Cypriot Hellenism, and that is why we are making sure that the population ratio is that of 1960, in the case of a solution”, he said.

President Anastasiades noted that the dangers from settlers is well known, not only for us but for all the inhabitants of the island, and I mean the Turkish Cypriots”, who “must realise too that a solution can benefit everyone”.

“Thus, understanding the concerns of the Greek Cypriots is a prerequisite in order to make progress and reach a solution”, he said.