A patriotic act is anything which will stop the suffering of all Cypriots and put an end to the country’s continuing occupation by Turkey and its division, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias has said.

The President and his wife, Elsi, hosted a lunch at the Presidential Palace for a number of children, who live in the northern Turkish occupied areas. Addressing the event, the President said he wished he could welcome the children in a reunited Cyprus, but noted that this is unfortunately still not the case.

Referring to efforts for a Cyprus solution, President Christofias said that “we are trying very sincerely to solve the problem, and reunite our country and our people”, adding that as long as this responsibility lies with him, he will continue to fight with consistency towards this goal.

The President said the suffering of the people has to be addressed. Nowadays, he went on, what is considered patriotic, is whatever terminates the suffering of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. He also referred to the continuous occupation of the island’s northern third by Turkey and the flow of settlers to this area, noting that the phenomenon is excruciating, first and foremost for the Turkish Cypriots, but also for the rest of the people.

Moreover, he said that the source of the de facto division of the island, of the influx of settles and of all related problems that arise for the enclaved Greek Cypriot population is Turkey’s continuous occupation of Cyprus.