President tells teens region has been at war since 1948

The hostilities in the Middle East were discussed during a meeting between Larnaca school students and President Nikos Christodoulides on Monday, the latter reiterating that Cyprus wished to be part of the solution, not the problem.

He acknowledged concern among people, but pointed out that the region has been at war since 1948.

The president was addressing Larnaca lyceum students during an event to highlight Cyprus’ EU presidency.

“Cyprus is not involved in any way in any war operation and is the only country in the region that is speaking with everyone and we have a mediating role. It is important that the Republic of Cyprus is not part of the problem, but part of the solution, and we will communicate this message to all countries in the region, we have this European solidarity,” he said.

This solidarity, he said, was proved through the fact that “Italy, France, Spain and Greece responded to our call to help us at this difficult time”.

Christodoulides assured the students that “whatever we do, our top priority is the safety of the people of Cyprus and the whole of the country”.

The president pointed out that the EU may be along way away, however the bloc “affects our daily lives continuously”.

Joining the EU, he said, was Cyprus’ most important diplomatic achievement and would unavoidably impact the content of a settlement to the island’s ongoing division.

Referring to the educational system, Christodoulides said the aim since day one was to revise analytical programmes to reduce the curriculum, and the first decision was to abolish four-month semesters.

“The educational system must equip students with critical thought,” he said.

The president said vocational direction was “very important” and began in the last year of primary education.

“In Cyprus, we don’t need any more lawyers and accountants. We must link the needs of the labour market with our educational system, guide our students where they will have a bright future, find work, earn a salary that will meet today’s needs so that they can rent an apartment or buy a house, think of getting married and start a family,” he said.

At this point, Christodoulides said the birthrate in Cyprus was low and to increase it the cabinet was investing in education and health.

The middle class, he added, had always been the backbone of the economy, however “unfortunately it is shrinking” and the government was making an effort to reverse its course.

Christodoulides pointed out the importance of the primary sector to reduce the island’s dependence on imports, and to this end, he said, the government was investing 1.5 per cent of the country’s GDP in the sector.

“Through education, we want to bring more young people into the primary sector,” he added.

Due to the economy’s growth, he said, unemployment was low, however the problem was a limited workforce.

“We don’t have an unemployment problem, but we must bring salaries up,” he said.

Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said education has often been referred to as the main pillar of growth and admitted that Larnaca may not have always been on the receiving end of innovation and infrastructure.

Addressing the students, she said the government was placing emphasis on technical education and linking education to the labour market so that graduates were readier than ever once they finished school.