Cyprus will manage to overcome the current economic adversities and return to growth and economic prosperity, the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has stressed, in a televised message to mark the Greek Orthodox Easter, celebrated today.

In his televised address, the President said his confidence in economic recovery relies on the perseverance of the Cypriot people, their love of their country and their industrious spirit in times of adversity.

The President referred to mistakes made over the decades, omissions and indecision of the recent past and to “unheard of treatment” of the country by its partners and international lenders.

On the Cyprus question, President Anastasiades stressed that the reunification of the country, its people and institutions remains his priority, reiterating his commitment to a solution on the basis of UN principles and decisions, which would safeguard EU values and principles as well as human rights.

When circumstances allow it and the appropriate conditions develop, he vowed, the Greek Cypriot side will respond readily to every procedure that would have prospects of success.

“This year Easter finds our people under unprecedented economic conditions. The economic stability and growth of nearly four decades, that came after the 1974 Turkish invasion, have been replaced by an unprecedented economic crisis,” he said, noting that mistakes made over the past decades, omissions, negligence and the indecision of the recent past on the domestic front, as well as the unheard of treatment the country was subjected to by its partners and lenders abroad have led Cyprus to levels of economic destitution.

The Government, he said, taking into account the big responsibilities towards the citizens and the country, has taken difficult but necessary decisions, under the circumstances, in order to save the country from a complete and disorderly default.

The President recognizes that the sacrifices the people are called upon to endure are painful and explains that this is the reason the government has embarked on a titanic effort to restart the economy in order to restore, at the earliest possible, the people’s standard of living, initially to bearable levels and subsequently to an ascending course.

“In this effort, there are neither easy nor automatic solutions. The citizens must understand this. And we must all, united and unanimous, assist in the rescue of our homeland and the quick exit from the economic crisis. Without reckless actions and untried prescriptions that involve much greater risks than complying by the measures that we are aware of and have agreed to implement,” Anastasiades told the people.

No one is excluded from the effort towards economic recovery and the return to prosperity, he remarked, adding that the Government desires the maximum consensus and cooperation among all the political, productive and social forces of the country.

Through concerted effort by everybody, the President said, “I am certain that, with difficulty, of course, but surely and steadily, we will reembark on the course to growth.”

“I have complete confidence in the perseverance, the sense of responsibility, the love of one’s country, and the industrious spirit of our people. I have no doubt that we will succeed, as we have done in the past. It is up to us. We shall determine the present and the future of our homeland,” the President stressed.

He made a special reference to those who have been affected most by the current economic difficulties, acknowledging that people display their solidarity with those in need on a daily basis.

The state, he said, is doing everything possible to support these vulnerable groups.

“At this time, our thoughts turn also to our territories enslaved by the Turkish occupier. The reunification of our homeland, the people, the institutions and the state as well as deliverance from Turkey’s occupation remain my priority, my concern and my vision,” the President said, reiterating his commitment to a solution on the basis of the acquis communautaire and respect of human rights.

“When circumstances allow it and the appropriate conditions develop, the Greek Cypriot side will readily respond to every procedure that would prospectively succeed,” he added.