The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades departed on Saturday evening for New York, where he is expected to undergo surgery for mitral valve repair on Tuesday, December 2, at “Mount Sinai” Hospital, in Manhattan.

In his statements at Larnaca airport, prior to his departure, the President thanked the Cypriot people for their well wishes, while adding that his morale is high.

“I will be admitted on Monday at the particular clinic and I hope to undergo repair surgery on Tuesday, in order to return back to Cyprus the soonest possible,” the President noted.

He added that his thoughts will be with the people and the problems they are facing, as well as with the country that needs a fresh start.

“During my recovery I will have time to reconsider a lot of what is happening today”, in order to “enter a new dynamic path to deal with the problems of the people,” he said.

The President will be accompanied by his wife, his personal doctor Savvas Kadis and cardio-vascular surgeon Marinos Sotiriou.

According to Kadis and Soteriou, the surgery is expected to last for five hours and the President will then be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, where he will remain for 4-5 days.

After being discharged from the hospital, President Anastasiades will remain for another week to convalesce.

During his absence abroad, House President Yiannakis Omirou takes over as Acting President of the Republic.