Cyprus Immigration focus on Life in Cyprus: Geographically belonging to Asia while being a member of the European Union, Cyprus occupies a special position in the multilateral process. On the occasion of the 2014 International Day of Peace, former President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias visited the ancient capital of Xi'an to attend commemorative activities and accepted an interview with a reporter from China.org.cn.
Cyprus Connects Eurasia and Strives for Peace in Asia
Christofias stated that Cyprus is geographically unique; it connects the Eurasian continent, serving as both an Asian and a European country, and possesses an important strategic geographical location. Cyprus is connected to the Middle East and partly belongs to the Middle East and South Mediterranean regions. Refugees from countries devastated by civil war, such as Syria and Egypt, often come to Cyprus for shelter. Many Western countries use Cyprus as a military base and have attempted to include Cyprus in NATO. The Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) of Cyprus, which is communist in nature, opposes Cyprus joining NATO. In 1971, the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, met with Chairman Mao Zedong, at which time they announced the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and China. Since then, Cyprus has been a firm supporter of China. Cyprus supports the People's Republic of China as the sole representative of the Chinese people, supports China's restoration of its permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and supports the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence proposed by China. Cyprus and China work together for peace and security in Asia. "During my tenure as President of Cyprus, I have always supported the development of relations between countries within the framework of peaceful coexistence, and at the same time, we also need the support of many countries," he said.
Asia is Part of the World and Should Fight Against the "Beast" of War
Christofias mentioned that in today's world, we live in an environment of multilateralism, and globalization is a new feature of world development. When talking about peace and security in Asia, one must keep in mind that without peace and security in the European Union, in Africa, or in any corner of the world, there can be no talk of security in Asia. He believes that whether it is the people of Asia, Europe, or Latin America, everyone must strive together for peace and security because everyone faces common threats and challenges, such as imperialism and militarism. Furthermore, in our common struggle, we must not only make efforts at the national level but also mobilize the broad masses of the people to exert pressure on NATO, the European Union, and the Council of Europe. Christofias said: "The entire European Union is not following its own policies; they are just following the policies of the United States step by step, abandoning the policies that Europe should have adhered to. Therefore, the whole world should unite, not only at the national level but also by mobilizing people at the grassroots level to fight against the 'beast' of war, and the root of the 'beast' of war is imperialism."
China-EU Civilizational Exchange and Friendly Relations Benefit the World
Europe has an ancient civilization, and in the same period in the East, China also nurtured an ancient civilization. Christofias stated that we must draw lessons from past experiences and respect and protect the civilizations of these regions. Currently, the world is falling back into barbarism. Contemporary European countries should work together with Asian countries and peoples to protect civilization. "The European Union is an achievement of European countries, but the new achievements of European countries depend on which political party is in power. We communists are a force that loves peace and stands united with the broad masses. However, some ruling parties in Europe are now right-wing parties influenced by neoliberal policies. They shift the burden of the economic crisis onto ordinary people." Christofias said, "I believe that we must overcome the economic crisis through solidarity and mutual assistance." Although China-EU relations are currently developing very well, there are different opinions within the EU regarding the development of relations with China. He said: "We need to work and strive together to make China-EU relations develop more smoothly, because this is very meaningful not only for the people of China and Europe but for the whole world."
China Undertakes International Responsibilities and the Ruling Party Has Strict Discipline
Christofias stated that General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the initiative on a new Asian security concept at the CICA summit, and China has made important contributions not only to peace and security in Asia but also to peace and security in the world. He believes that China has the capability, vitality, and economic strength to undertake such responsibilities and play an important role. However, at the same time, China must also consider its population of 1.3 billion, which is a large base. While undertaking international responsibilities, it should also take care of the people's livelihood. He indicated that China currently has some peaceful initiatives in Africa, and domestically, China has adopted many practices to stay closely connected with the masses, including anti-corruption measures, which have made the ruling party's discipline more rigorous. "I think that through such new policies, you have also answered very well what you should do and what kind of responsibilities you should undertake," he said.
Promoting National Consultation and Reconciliation Through Peaceful Dialogue
Christofias introduced that Cyprus is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country with two main goals: one is to defeat the aggressors to achieve independence, and the other is to deal with the contradictions and problems between many different ethnic groups. "Although our main task is to achieve independence, in dealing with different ethnic cultures, our position is that only through dialogue and good intentions, and by putting forward some initiatives and having the patience to solve these problems, can we succeed." If there is any force in Cyprus that hopes to achieve national harmony through force, he believes this is a step backward. "One of my principles is that we must solve problems between different ethnic groups through peaceful dialogue; otherwise, there is no future." Christofias pointed out that all people are children of Mother Earth, and we must respect all people, as well as our neighbors who have different beliefs and traditions, because everyone has the same ultimate goal: to live better, to have development, and to hope for national prosperity. "I think we should fight together to promote consultation and reconciliation between ethnic groups through peaceful dialogue. This is also the significance of our holding the International Day of Peace commemorative activities here." "Finally, I want to mention a slogan proposed by our country, which is that we adhere to the One China and One Cyprus policy, and we must strive together for the reunification of China and the reunification of Cyprus," Christofias said.
