Cyprus for Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

Cyprus will continue to support Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Cypriots well understood the situation in Sri Lanka and it was the legitimate right of a country to fight against terrorism within its borders, said Cypriot President Demetris Christofias.

He said so when Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka who is now on a visit to Cyprus called on the President of the Republic of Cyprus at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on Monday.

The Cypriot President who was visiting New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly returned to Nicosia the previous evening to meet with Prime Minister Wickramanayaka and was due to leave immediately after the meeting for another engagement, in Strasburg.

The Prime Minister thanked President Christofias for the appointment given at short notice and said that it reflected the very cordial relations existing between the two island nations. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and agreed on the need to have more exchanges at various levels to promote relations further between the two nations which share many similarities.

The Prime Minister briefly explained the current situation in Sri Lanka and said that Sri Lanka had always opposed the separation or division of sovereign and independent countries.

He stated that the Eastern Province had been already liberated from the clutches of terrorists and democracy had been restored there. He was confident that within a short time terrorism would be eliminated from the Northern Province and democracy would be restored in that Province as well. He expressed the hope that Cyprus would be reunited soon on the basis of a settlement acceptable to both sides.

On behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister extended an invitation to President Christofias to visit Sri lanka at a convenient time and the Cypriot President accepted the invitation with pleasure. The Prime Minister suggested that the delegation be accompanied by a business delegation to promote trade and other business relations.

The Cypriot President reciprocated the sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister regarding the warm relations between the two countries and said that Cyprus would continue to support Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In view of their own experience, the people of Cyprus well understood the situation in Sri Lanka. He continued that it was the legitimate right of a country to fight against terrorism within its borders. He was aware of the presence of a large number of Sri Lankans in Cyprus and his Government would implement progressive policies to make the life of Sri Lankans employed in Cyprus more comfortable.

The Cypriot President briefed the Prime Minister on the status of discussions between the two sides for unification of Cyprus.