Presidents exchange awards during visit

SLOVAK PRESIDENT Ivan Ga?parovi? who was yesterday on an official visit to Cyprus said the time had come for the EU to take a more concrete and absolute stance as far as Turkey and complying with its accession obligations were concerned.

Speaking to reporters during a joint news conference with President Tassos Papadopoulos following a morning meeting between the two leaders, Ga?parovi? said the Slovak Republic would do everything possible to solve the Cyprus problem in a positive manner for Cyprus.

The duo also discussed bilateral relations and ways to further promote these relations, as well as international issues which affect both countries, and Ga?parovi? said that Cyprus and Slovakia had common views on fundamental issues such as democracy and developing the correct relations between the two countries.

Before the statements, President Papadopoulos presented Ga?parovi? with the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III and Ga?parovi? presented the Cypriot president with the order of the White Double Cross in recognition for the cooperation and development between the two countries.

The Slovak President also met House President Demetris Christofias and Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou and will also meet with Archbishop Chrysostomos II.

Ga?parovi? is accompanied by Slovak government officials, as well as a multimember delegation of Slovak businessmen and journalists.

During his official visit, Ga?parovi? will give a lecture at the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry on “Investment opportunities in Slovakia”.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.