President Demetris Christofias has assured that education and culture will not be affected by the fallout of the economic crisis.

Speaking at the presentation of a book on his party AKEL, the President also said that when the party came to power, it had to deal with “unfortunate junctures”, pointing out that the government could not have foreseen the global financial crisis.

This, he said, “is a deep crisis of the system, which I believe will take its course and close the circle with very serious repercussions.”

“I can tell you that education and culture will not suffer cut backs, other sectors will be affected. This is a matter of principle for the government,” he added.

He said that when there is a crisis, education must be left untouched.

Cyprus, he recalled, spends more on education than any other EU member state.

The President acknowledged that improved organization and better use of funds are necessary, adding that educational reforms in the offing will help towards this direction.

Concluding his presentation, the President praised the work of the author Lenia Takoushi Christoforou – “Human Shield” – and described AKEL as the people’s “fortress.”