CYPRIOT AND ARMENIAN PEOPLES HAVE BEEN TIED WITH BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP FOR CENTURIES

Armradio.am
06.05.2010 19:15

On May 6 Armenian Ambassador Gagik Ghalachyan presented his
creadentials to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris
Christofias.

"The Cypriot and Armenian peoples have been tied with bonds of
friendship for long centuries now while they have also shared similar
destinies throughout history," the Ambassador said.

"In the aftermath of the Genocide of Armenians perpetrated in the
Ottoman Empire at the dawn of the previous century many Armenians,
having lost their historic motherland, found refuge and second home
in Cyprus. It was only recently that the sad 95th anniversary of that
great tragedy was marked worldwide, also in the Republic of Cyprus,
once again voicing that justice is yet to be served, and the crime is
yet to be acknowledged. We know that the friendly Cypriot people have
similar sentiments and resentments, with their homeland still divided,
their rights still trampled," Ambassador Ghalachyan stated.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the ways of further deepening
of bilateral relations, urgent international and regional issues.

President Christofias said that "as EU member state Cyprus is very
close to Armenia, both in political and geographic terms, and we will
continue to do our utmost to strengthen the EU- Armenia relations in
all areas."

"In this respect, let me express our support to the efforts undertaken
by President Sargsyan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within
the OSCE Minsk Group process, without the use of force but through
negotiations based on the principles and norms of international law.

Allow me to also refer to the agreement between Armenia and Turkey
to advance the process of normalization of relations that currently
is experiencing a stalemate due to the fact that Turkey has not
proceeded with steps to ratify the Protocols. In this difficult turn
we commend President Sargsyan’s declared commitment to the vision of
peace, stability and reconciliation. In this way, Turkey would be
taking a step of political goodwill, that could hopefully serve as
a precedent for Ankara to recognize the Republic of Cyprus and abide
with international and European law," the President of Cyprus stated.

Mr. Christofias requested the Ambassador to convey to President
Sargsyan, as well as to the brotherly people of Armenia his warmest
greetings and a message of sincere friendship and solidarity. He
took the opportunity to renew an invitation to President Sargsyan to
visit Cyprus.