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Question 21 in last night's CNN sponsored and broadcast Democratic presidential candidates debate

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#ΓΤΠ [Press and Information Office] President Tassos Papadopoulos announces he is running
ΓΤΠ - ΛΕΥΚΩΣΙΑ-Κύπρος 24/7/2007 1:31:52 μμ
No.26 Monday, 23/7/2007

President Tassos Papadopoulos announceshe is running for re-election

The President of the Republic, Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos, today asked the citizens of the Cyprus Republic to again honour him with their trust and their vote.

Announcing his decision to run for re-election, President Papadopoulos stated that he feels he honoured the trust of the Cypriot people and that Cyprus is moving ahead with successes and confidence.

Referring to the Cyprus problem and specifically to the Annan Plan, President Papadopoulos said he submitted proposals to make this Plan a balanced one and one that could be mutually acceptable. On 24 April 2004, the day of the Referendum, President Papadopoulos said the majority of Greek Cypriots shared his concerns and "today we deserve to feel proud of our decision. We averted the permanent division of our country", he said and added: "We managed to convince that by rejecting the Annan Plan, we do not reject the solution. We rejected the specific Plan which did not provide for the true reunification of Cyprus." We managed to reverse the negative climate in the EU and internationally, he added, after the rejection of the Plan and to link Turkey's EU course with the obligation to normalize its relations with the Cyprus Republic.

Referring to the 8 July Agreement, President Papadopoulos said the Agreement opened up a new way and provides for a new basis that will be the result of negotiations on substantive aspects of the Cyprus problem within the Working Groups and, finally, the result of talks between the leaders of the two Communities. He said his recent proposal for a meeting with Mr. Talat aims to promote the implementation of the Agreement.

Addressing the Turkish Cypriots, he said: "To our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, I provide the assurance of the respect of their lawful rights as equal citizens in a reunified Cyprus. I understand and respect their concerns which have been caused by many years of dispute and separation. I believe that a solution can be viable and functional, if it is based upon an agreed basis between the leaders as well as the communities. It should serve the interests and address the concerns of each community and of the citizens rather than the interests and the intentions of third parties."

President Papadopoulos stressed he is striving to achieve a solution but this could not be any solution. "I am not willing to simply put an end to the Cyprus problem. I am not willing to sacrifice the rights of refugees to their properties and their right to return", he said.

Referring to his home policy, President Papadopoulos said his Government's effort to improve the standard of living of each and every citizen has been strenuous and effective, although not everything has been perfectly fulfilled. He referred to the economic reforms and the introduction of the euro on 1st January, 2008 which constitutes a sound confirmation of the success of Cyprus' economy policy.

He said his Government has doubled social expenditure, reduced taxation and promoted institutional changes in order to consolidate the rule of law and equality. "We have simplified bureaucratic procedures and have established the Citizens Serving Centres. We have reformed the health system, we have shaped and implemented an integrated educational reform. We have broadened and enriched the housing policy. We have established a new policy for the protection of the environment. We have designed new programmes to financially support the youth and the women so that they can set up their own businesses. Thus our Democracy has become a contemporary European state", he said.

In implementing the Government's Programme, President Papadopoulos praised the contribution of AKEL, DIKO and EDEK parties.

"My duty and responsibility is to ensure that the course we have paved together and for which we have jointly struggled will continue. To ensure that the solution to the Cyprus problem will be the one we wish for and not the one some people wished to impose on us," the President said.

Concluding his statement President Papadopoulos called on the people of Cyprus to honour him once again with their trust.

"I am asking for your trust and support in order to secure together the course of Cyprus in the years to come. To act as the communicator of your own decisions and of your own vision. To continue to strive for the solution to the Cyprus problem, following your mandate. I place my policy and my stance so far as a guarantee."

I trust in your judgment and love for Cyprus, he concluded.

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