Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has reiterated his government`s determination to engage in a result oriented negotiating process with a view to achieving a settlement which will serve the legitimate interests of the Cypriot people.

President Anastasiades was speaking during an official ceremony, at the Presidential Palace, on Monday, during which the new Croatian Ambassador to Nicosia Ivan Velmir Starcevic. who is based in Athens, presented him with his credentials, an official press release says.

On his part Starcevic welcomed on behalf of his government the resumption of Cyprus talks and promised to continue following them closely, hoping for their successful outcome. He further referred to the participation of Croatian military and police personnel in the UNFICYP peacekeeping mission in Cyprus.

Addressing the Ambassador, President Anastasiades noted that “your arrival in Cyprus coincides with a critical juncture for our island”. Since I assumed my duties, he added, “I declared my intention to work relentlessly aiming at finding a viable and just solution to the Cyprus problem, which remains our top priority”.

The adoption of the Joint Declaration on 11 February 2014, he continued, “paved the way for the resumption of full-fledged negotiations between the two communities, under the aegis of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, aiming at a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, in accordance with the High Level Agreements, the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the EU principles and values”.

“The government of Cyprus is determined to engage in a result oriented negotiating process with a view to achieving a settlement which will serve, above all, the legitimate interests of the Cypriot people; a settlement which will secure the unity of our country and the respect of the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all its citizens”, he stressed.

In this process, President Anastasiades pointed out, “we attach great importance to the adoption of confidence building measures which are vital for building trust between the two communities and restoring hope and confidence in the prospect of reaching a fair, viable and mutually accepted settlement”.

He further expressed Cyprus` gratitude “for the principled stance of the Republic of Croatia on the Cyprus issue, as well as to thank Croatia for it contribution to UNFICYP”.

He reiterated “the determination of my government for taking decisive steps in order to find a solution that will provide a prosperous future for all Cypriots”.

Referring to the economy President Anastasiades expressed satisfaction over the positive results so far in as far as Cyprus` adjustment programme is going. He acknowledged that “the way forward is not easy, but I have absolute confidence that the spirit of unity and the drive to succeed already demonstrated by the people of Cyprus, will prevail”.

On his part the Ambassador expressed appreciation over the results of the Cyprus EU Council rotating Presidency in the second half of 2012.

“I would like to particularly stress good progress made in the field of maritime policy, among others by the Limassol Declaration, building a solid basis for further development in this area which is right now one of the priorities of the Hellenic EU Presidency as well”, he said.

This, he added, “is of particular importance for all the Mediterranean countries, Croatia included”.

Referring to the resumption of Cyprus talks, which aim to reunify the island, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974, the Croatian Ambassador said it is undoubtedly of the “utmost importance”.

“My government is welcoming such developments and is going to continue following them closely, hoping for their successful outcome”, he noted.

As far as the economic side is concerned, he added, “we are following the implementation of the economic adjustment program and we wish that as soon as possible Cyprus overcomes the present situation”. He further expressed the hope “that the recent discovery of energy deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean and plans regarding their transportation to European markets will play a significant positive role in this process as well as for the future of Cyprus in general”.

Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides, Director of the Office of the President Panayiotis Antoniou, and Chief of Protocol Nearchos Palas were also present at the ceremony.