The New Year “will mark the beginning of the regeneration of our country,” President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday, in a televised message to the people of Cyprus for the New Year, noting that Cyprus can soon become another country that will offer protection and equal prospects of prosperity to all its lawful residents, provided a functional and sustainable solution of the Cyprus problem is achieved.

“The year that we are leaving behind us tonight has been a challenging one,” he said, adding that the people have been called upon to pay for the mistakes of the past.

President Anastasiades said the people “have demonstrated the courage and determination to change what needs to be changed” and “we have proved that we have the strength to fight, so that our country may stand on its feet again, so that the economy will recover and pride and dignity will return for the Cypriot citizens.”

“Together, we have already set the foundations for the future, by preventing the bankruptcy of the country, by laying the foundations for the restructuring and modernisation of the outmoded state of 1960, by moving decisively towards the consolidation of meritocracy and the fight against corruption, by creating the conditions for social solidarity and support of the vulnerable groups in society,” he said.

The President expressed certainty that “we all want, can and will achieve our goals and realise our visions, as long as we stand together,” adding that “Cyprus can soon become a European, modern, strong and secure country, a factor of peace and stability in our region.”

Addressing the people as a whole, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, President Anastasiades said “Cyprus can soon become another country that will offer protection and equal prospects of prosperity to all of its lawful residents across its territory” with the prerequisite being “a solution of the Cyprus problem that will end the occupation and settling, will enable Cyprus to be rid of foreign troops and dependencies, and will restore and safeguard the inalienable human rights and fundamental freedoms of all lawful citizens, a solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, functional and sustainable, that will reunite the people, the country, the institutions and the economy.”

President Anastasiades pointed out that, before a dialogue for a solution begins, the basic principles of the solution of the Cyprus problem should be clarified.

Closing his message, the President said the year 2013 was tough and that the year 2014 will not be easy but “in the next year we will create the conditions for a better tomorrow.”

“During 2013 we put an end to a bad past. During 2014 we shall open the window to a promising future. The New Year will mark the beginning of the regeneration of our country. We will come out of a year of tribulation into a year of hope. This depends on all of us. We will put our country back on its feet, with our hard work, with our perseverance, with solidarity with our compatriots, with unity,” he said and wished everyone health, strength and prosperity