The government always stands by the religious groups in Cyprus and the solution of their problems is among its priorities Presidential Commissioner, Fotis Fotiou, said on Wednesday during a meeting he had with the Archbishop of Maronites in Cyprus, Youssef Soueif, on the occasion of the Archbishop`s departure from the country.

According to a press release, Fotiou thanked Archbishop Soueif about the significant humanitarian, social and religious task which he fulfilled as regards the Maronite religious group in Cyprus.

Moreover he thanked him on behalf of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, and the government about his immense contribution to the people of Cyprus struggle aiming to terminate the Turkish occupation and reunite the country.

Fotiou also said that the state financially contributes, as far as possible, to supporting efforts to establish but also to improve existing infrastructure projects and monuments of the religious group in the government-controlled areas of the Republic and also to restore churches and monasteries of the Maronites in the Turkish occupied areas.

He wished Archbishop Soueif good luck in the new important duties he is assuming as Archbishop of Tripoli.

On his part, the Archbishop thanked Fotiou for his cooperation and support of his work, and the President and all the people of Cyprus for their interest and support both to the Maronite Archbishopric and the Maronites in Cyprus

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.