President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades inaugurated the Latin Centre in Nicosia on Thursday evening, announcing a grant for the operational costs of the cultural centre and assuring that the state cooperation and support would be permanent.

In an address, President Anastasiades said he was aware of the difficulties faced by the Latin community and all the problems caused by the Turkish invasion of 1974, and pointed out that his aim was for Cyprus to be a reunified, independent and normal European state, a homeland for all its citizens.

He said that in the past two years he has been striving to solve the Cyprus issue, noting that “we mobilised all those who we believe can contribute to and creatively support the reunification of Cyprus.”

President Anastasiades referred to the efforts made during talks with the Turkish Cypriot community, noting that “for the first time we managed to have the EU and the UN Secretary General at the same table, opposite Turkey,” and that “for the first time we put issues on the table that constitute the core of the Cyprus problem: invasion, occupation, withdrawal of occupation troops, and abolishing intervention rights.”

He added that “for the first time the UN Secretary General himself adopted the position that Cyprus must and can be a normal state, without guarantees and dependencies.”

President Anastasiades pointed out that Turkey’s insistence on guarantees and intervention rights toppled the talks.

However, he assured that he was “ready to resume talks in the framework of the parameters set out by the UN Secretary General himself, in order to safeguard everything achieved so far, always taking into consideration the UN regulations and the European acquis.”

Referring to the Latin Centre, President Anastasiades said it was a long-standing and totally fair request of the Latin community, which the current government managed to fulfill.

President Anastasiades referred to the contribution and participation of the Latin community in the life of the country, and noted that “for us, the Greek Cypriots, it is an honour that you, the Latins, chose in a referendum in 1960, along with our Maronite and Armenian compatriots, to join the Greek Cypriot community, sharing the same privileges, the same rights, and the same responsibilities in the construction of our homeland.”

He furthermore referred to the actions of the government to meet requests by the Latin community, concerning schools and educational programmes, utilising EU funds, and restoring churches and historical monuments.

The President also announced a grant of €15,500 for the operational needs of the cultural centre, and assured the state cooperation and support would be permanent in all efforts to keep the Latin Centre alive.

Addressing the event, Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou said that the long-standing request of the community to have its own roof has become a reality thanks to the actions and guidance of President Anastasiades. “We promised it and we did it,” Photiou said.

He pointed out that the Latins are “a select piece of our people, with an especially creative participation in the society, and with a strong will and determination to contribute to the progress and prosperity of our people as a whole.”

Photiou said that “their historical and cultural monuments which are today a remarkable part of our cultural heritage, as well as their intense and high-level involvement in the financial and social life of the country, seal a very dynamic past and at the same time historical present, which certainly guarantees a very promising future to the benefit of our common homeland.”

“There is no doubt that the Latins of Cyprus fully share our concerns about the pending solution of the Cyprus problem, and that their desire as well is the reunification of our homeland through a solution which will terminate the occupation, without guarantees and intervention rights, and will fully secure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots,” Photiou said.

He also expressed certainty that the Latin Centre will operate according to the vision of former Representative of the Latins, Benito Mantovani, that is to be decisive in maintaining cohesion and strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation.

Speaking at the event, Representative of the Latin Religious Group in the House of Representatives Antonella Mantovani said the Latin Centre was made possible with the support of President Anastasiades.

She noted that efforts to find a suitable place began by the need of the community to have its own place to promote its contribution and presence in the Cypriot society, through exhibitions and cultural events.

Mantovani said the Latin Centre is situated near the Famagusta Gate and the Venetian Walls of Nicosia, both of which are samples of the historical presence of the Latins in Cyprus.

The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of UN-peace talks at the Swiss resort of Crans – Montana ended without an agreement. Talks held under the auspices of the UN aim at reunifying Cyprus under a federal roof.