SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS 4 November

 Filenews 4 November 2020

The Council of Ministers, which began its meeting at 18:30, was concluded, and at around 20:30 the President of the Republic proceeded to a statement.

At the end of the presidential decree, the Minister of Health is expected to give a press conference to explain the new anti-pandemic measures to be decided at the Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour, Zeta Emilianidou, will give a press conference on Thursday, 5 November, at 12.15pm, at the Presidential Palace, where she will announce the new measures to support Employment, due to the measures taken by the Government to tackle the crowning pandemic.

In detail the speech of the President of the Republic:

In recent weeks, the countries of Europe and other continents have been under a new, even more exterminating attack by the so-called invisible enemy.

Cyprus, however successful the first wave, could not be an exception to the new outbreak of the pandemic.

The lifting of most of the restrictive measures has unfortunately led to complacency, and the illusion that we have finally overcome the risks.

The warnings of the International Health Organisation, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and our own scientists that the virus remains among us were seen as a high-profile advice or even by some as an intention to de-deprivation of basic citizens' freedoms.

Friends and Friends,

I fully understand the psychological and physical fatigue caused by the sudden lifestyle change, I understand how difficult it is to go against the laws of nature when you ask citizens, much more than young people, to be deprived of what they are entitled to enjoy and enjoy.

That is why my intervention today is not aimed at incriminating anyone, but is the result of my anxiety about protecting the right of all in life.

Today I am not only intervening as President, but much more as a father, as a grandfather, as a parent who worries about the fate of his loved ones, but also about the fate of his fellow citizens.

The daily increase in cases tends to take on uncontrollable dimensions, dimensions which, in addition to life, threaten the health system, jobs, the well-being of everyone and the country at large.

The scientists, advisers to the Government, are sounding the alarm that if there is no full compliance with the existing measures and if we do not react immediately with further restrictions, the consequences for the whole will be asymmetric.

On the basis of the above, the Government, assuming its responsibilities, is obliged to take additional measures in the hope that although citizens respond, in order to avoid the stricter restrictions imposed one after the other by European countries.

At today's Cabinet Meeting a number of measures were decided which immediately after my intervention will be announced by the Minister of Health.

Nevertheless, I would like to repeat what I said in my statement of 29 April: 'No Government planning, no comprehensive programme of either tackling the pandemic or the economic consequences, can have the desired results unless everyone becomes aware that we must strictly observe the protocols on personal hygiene and health safety conditions in the workplace'.

Friends and Friends,

I specifically ask our young and young to reflect on how much pain it will cause them if by their own reckless behaviuor or negligence the father, mother, one of the brothers or one of their beloved grandfather or grandmother loses his life.

I urge them not to ignore how insecure they will feel if one of the parents goes into unemployment.

At the same time, I ask parents to understand that if they currently avoid mass social and festive events for their children, it will be the least sacrifice in the face of the greater good.

I would like to insist that it is time for everyone to take personal and social responsibility towards our relatives, friends and fellow citizens.

Friends and Friends,

I would like to assure you that the Government, in addition to restrictive protection measures and the further strengthening of the public health system, has made sure to obtain a significant number of rapid diagnosis of antigens in order to enable early diagnosis in public schools, camps, communities, etc.

At the same time, I would like to convey to you the hope of the scientific community that we are close to tackling the pandemic with effective vaccines that are in the final stage of testing.

Cyprus, through the mechanisms of the European Union, has already pre-purchased vaccines covering the whole population.

Friends and Friends,

At the same time, as a result of sound financial management, we will also face the economic and risks caused and caused by the pandemic to the affected businesses and workers.

To this end, the Minister for Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance will tomorrow announce a package of measures to further protect workers and businesses, while the Minister of Finance will announce plans to cover the operating costs of affected businesses within the next few days.

Friends and Friends,

I ask for your understanding, which is why I invoke your patience with the belief that the test that humanity faces will soon be overcome.

If we all behave with a sense of responsibility in the critical hours we are going through, if we all show consistency and prudence, I have no doubt that we will succeed again.

Thank you.

Source: eyenews