By Staff Reporter
CYPRUS supports the positions of principle for the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine and its wish and political will is to have a peaceful solution that will restore human rights, the independence, and the sovereignty of the country, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday, while noting that Cyprus remains the leading partner in bilateral investments.
Anastasiades, on an official visit to Ukraine, had a private meeting in Kiev with President Petro Poroshenko, who said that “Cyprus has consistently supported Ukraine’s course towards European integration”
He thanked Cyprus for its support to Ukraine’s election as a non permanent member of the UN Security Council.
“Cyprus has steadily supported Ukraine’s course towards European integration. The agreement for the European integration of Ukraine is very important both for us and the EU and we thank you for your personal contribution to the agreement of this major agreement,” Poroshenko said following a meeting with Anastasiades.
Anastasiades noted that relations between the two countries have never been shaken over the years.
Through the principled position kept by the two governments on issues which both countries faced, bonds become stronger and prospects are being created to render these ties more effective to the benefit of their peoples.
The Cypriot president said the agreements signed by the two countries would strengthen their relations further.
“Cyprus’ position remains firm as regards Ukraine’s European course,” Anastasiades said. “The Association Agreement with the EU has already been ratified and we are ready to examine and support visa liberalisation, in the hope that the Commission’s report will be positive.”
Addressing a business forum in Kiev, Anastasiades urged Cypriot and Ukrainian entrepreneurs to identify new joint business initiatives, as well as new areas for future co-operation, assuring that his government will facilitate such activities.
Quoting data from Ukraine’s statistical service, he said as of October 1, Cyprus ranked first both on the list of countries with direct investments in the Ukrainian economy with a total volume of $12.2bn and on the list of countries that are recipients of direct investment from Ukraine, with the volume being close to $6bn.
According to the same data, the volume of export of services from Ukraine to the Republic of Cyprus reached $67.2m as of the April 1 this year, while the import of services from Cyprus to Ukraine reached $72.6m, he added.
“Although, our investment cooperation has reached unprecedented levels, in areas such as air transport, agriculture, sports, economic, scientific, technical and industrial co-operation, our trade volume does not fully reflect the full potential of our relationship,” he noted.
In this regard, he noted, “I urge all of you to identify a number of new joint business initiatives, as well as new areas for future co-operation.”
He assured businessmen that his government “will facilitate and actively promote any relevant initiatives, and will take any necessary measures to further enhance our economic partnership.”
Referring to cooperation in tourism, Anastasiades said “we are witnessing an upward trend of tourist arrivals from Ukraine.”
“This year it is estimated that 50,000 Ukrainians visited Cyprus, a 22% increase of tourist arrivals from last year”, he added.
This increase, he said, “can be attributed to the co-ordinated efforts of the private sector and the support provided by the government, through, among others, the services provided by our embassy and the office of the Cyprus Tourist Organisation in Kiev, as well as our two consular offices in Mariupol and Odessa, and the speedier granting of visas for Ukrainian nationals.”
Before concluding his visit, Anastasiades met with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk thanking him for the principled stance Ukraine has on the Cyprus problem.
“We always cooperated closely and supported each other and with this visit our relations are even more productive,” the president said, while Yatsenyuk thanked Anastasiades for showing support over Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Anastasiades also met with the Ukrainian speaker of parliament Volodymyr Groysman, where they both commended the good relations between the two countries, seeking to strengthen them even further.
