Please be upstanding and give it up for the new term President, His Excellency Mr Demitris Christofias...
(That includes you VP, show some respect for a Head of State and what's with the tomatoes??).
Ahem... Thenk you BillC and respect to you for your great contribution to the National Issue,
(cough, cough) My Fellow Europeans...
The first of July 2012 is a historic day for our country. As of today the Republic of Cyprus assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months. Assuming our institutional role, as a presiding country, is a great honour, recognition and prestige.
Our goal is to exercise an absolutely successful European presidency. Exercising successfully the first Cyprus Presidency of the Council shall undoubtedly have significant positive repercussions for our future course in the European Union, as well as in other fields. It shall lend even more prestige to Cyprus, especially within the European and international environment in which we live and work. A successful European presidency on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus shall create a significant political and strategic reserve that shall be later utilized within the Union.
We are proving that Cyprus, small in size and population, semi-occupied Cyprus, has the will and the strength to stand up and play a leading part in the European affairs. For the next six months Cyprus shall be the centre of all developments and activities of the entire European edifice. For a great period of time we have worked and dedicated all our powers as an unbreakable team, in order to safeguard that we respond successfully to the requirements of the Presidency. We are fully ready for the difficult but also the exciting challenge. Now is the time for unity. All together, political leadership, technocrats and the entire population, raise Cyprus higher in Europe.
Sorry to interrupt you Mr President.... Who just threw this pair of knickers on to the podium???... Was that you GI Girl...???
Yes, please carry on Mr Pres.
Yes, thank you Bill (cough, cough)
...We are assuming the Presidency of the European Council at a time where the European Edifice is facing serious challenges. I fully share the view of the President of the European Commission Mr. Barroso, that today’s crisis tormenting the Union constitutes the biggest threat to everything the peoples of Europe have created with hard work and sacrifices. The unprecedented global financial crisis has caused serious turbulence throughout the European Union. Big economies of major member states have been shaken. Today’s situation constitutes a big problem that must be dealt with. At the same time it constitutes a major challenge for the European Union, for the changes that must take place, with the eyes to the future. A challenge that is related to the critical choices on how we envisage our common European home in the next years. Challenges that are related to how we are going to implement this vision. With the strategy and our policies.
The motto of the Republic of Cyprus concentrates today’s need “Towards a better Europe”. We shall work together with the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council, together with our partners in the European Union, for more community solidarity, for a Europe more relevant to simple people, in order to respond positively and efficiently to the daily needs of its citizens. We shall work to enhance social cohesion. We shall work to deal with the serious social problems we are facing due to the global financial crisis, unemployment being the first one. For a Europe of growth, that we need so much today. A Europe of prosperity. Together, united, the people of Europe we can succeed.
Dear compatriots,
The Republic of Cyprus finds itself before the implementation of a supreme national goal, the goal of a successful Presidency of the Council of the European Union. At the same time, Cyprus is at a major turning point for the future course of our country and our people.
Solving the problems of our banking system, due to its exposure to the Greek economy is what is mainly sought in order to deal with the financial crisis and its repercussions. At the same time we highlight that the outlook we have created with resolution for our people, with the finding of hydrocarbon deposits in our Exclusive Economic Zone, constitutes the most important positive development for our country and our people in the last few years.
Dear compatriots,
The continued Turkish intransigence and provocation cannot derail us from the vision to throw off the occupation and to reunite our country and our people on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Today the Republic of Cyprus is more powerful internationally and more prestigious.
Together, united, we can and we have to face the challenges, building a free, democratic and prosperous Cyprus in the framework of a European Union of growth, social cohesion and solidarity.
(More or less as reported by the Fam Gaztte)
