Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said Cyprus is proud of its Maronite community as he welcomed a delegation led by outgoing non-voting parliamentary representative Yiannakis Moussas to the presidential palace.
Meeting at the presidential palace
Christodoulides thanked Moussas for their cooperation, saying he would not forget the reopening of the Kormakitis nursery school after 25 years. He referred to pre-election commitments and cited changes to resettlement plans, increased numbers of people moving, compensation for floods in Kormakitis, and support for churches.
Christodoulides said the state is proud of the Maronite community’s contribution to political, economic and social life, and expressed hope that cooperation would continue after the forthcoming parliamentary elections, when the Maronite Cypriot community will elect Moussas’ replacement. He said the government would continue to work with the community.
Moussas cites achievements and resettlement incentives
Moussas described Christodoulides’ election in 2023 as historic for Cyprus’ circumstances and said their relationship goes back to Christodoulides’ earlier roles as foreign minister and government spokesman under former president Nicos Anastasiades.
Moussas said he was pleased that many developments had occurred in a short period, making them noticeable. He cited improvements in infrastructure in Maronite villages and a drastic increase in the number of Maronite Cypriots moving to traditionally Maronite villages in the north, which he attributed to increased subsidies and incentives offered by the government. He said that without the villages, the community has no hope of surviving.
Ayia Marina and Asomatos raised in talks
Moussas said Christodoulides was the first president to raise the issue of the two garrisoned villages of Ayia Marina and Asomatos and to put the matter on the table for talks. He noted that both villages, east of Morphou, were historically Maronite villages but since 1974 have fallen within Turkish military bases.
What do you think should be the next priority for cooperation between the government and the Maronite community?