Health Minister and presidency candidate Stavros Malas, has said that Cyprus must continue the struggle for a solution to its problem on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

At the same time, he noted, continuous and honest communication with the Turkish-Cypriots must be a key pillar of our policy and the most powerful weapon against the expansionist policy followed by Turkey in an attempt to achieve establishment of two states in Cyprus.

 Speaking Sunday at the memorial service held at the Kykkos Monastery to commemorate the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, he pointed out that any objective observer of the Cyprus issue – in Cyprus and abroad – can notice the fatigue growing gradually and steadily, in international circles, despite President Christofias’ tireless and courageous efforts to achieve progress in the talks with the Turkish-Cypriot leader.

 Turkey’s negative stance towards Cyprus is the root of this fatigue, Malas said and pointed out that “we must build consensus amongst us to reveal Turkey’s expansionary policy and encourage a positive stance on behalf of our key partner’s abroad”.

 “Our weapons must be the unanimous decisions of the National Council, as well as the UN Security Council resolutions on the Cyprus issue”, he added.

 “We must continue to defend a solution of the Cyprus issue, on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, without foreign armies and settlers. A united Cyprus, capable of handling its future and managing on its own its natural resources” Malas concluded.

 Cyprus has been divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.