Wednesday, 14/10/2015
Welcome address on behalf of the President of the Republic,
Mr Nicos Anastasiades,
by the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Mr Ionas Nicolaou,
at the XXI IPA World Congress in Limassol
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Dear President of the International Police Association,

It is with great pleasure that I address and have placed under my auspices the 21ST IPA World Congress of the International Police Association, which takes place in our country for the first time.

It is a privilege and an honour for Cyprus to be organising this significant congress, as it provides us with the unique opportunity to perform a critical role in promoting the high aims of the International Police Association.

Being informed about the aims and ambitions of the IPA, I have to stress that I strongly support all the efforts made by the Association to promote respect towards the laws and the principles of justice. Mutual understanding and friendship, productive communication and contact amongst the members, are the primary qualities of this Association. I consider the exchange of professional knowledge and experience as one of the most valuable targets, which form a common basis for consolidating international understanding.

The chief professional aim of the Police is the offer of services to the public, which would have no outcome without the close cooperation amongst its members, especially under the most difficult and adverse circumstances. It is for this reason that Police officers particularly deserve all of our help and support in their efforts to promote the well-being of the society.
There have been many changes in the World since the Foundation of the IPA in 1950. The challenges the Police Force has to deal with become more and more demanding. Rise in criminal methods and acts worldwide, along with the new trends of technological advancement have made nowadays demands more vigorous. Therefore, the activities of the police are open to the greater public evaluation and constantly undergo public scrutiny. The call for public accountability is more intense than ever and the Police Force has to be able to respond to today’s challenges in an effective and qualitative manner.

I am certain that the congress will elaborate and contribute to the work and mission of the Police Service in order to determine those conditions and which will allow it to proceed unimpaired its productive work and contribute to progress and development of our countries and to the well-being of all peoples.

Welcoming our guests, I would like to wish you all a pleasant stay on our island, which unfortunately remains divided as the result of the Turkish invasion in 1974. However, I want to believe that the determination and the initiatives we are undertaking will create the conditions so as to achieve a solution within the agreed common framework.

Cyprus can no longer be a European state whose human rights and basic freedoms are perpetually violated. We seek to safeguard the right of every Cypriot citizen to choose for themselves their place of residence and work, to choose on their own where to live in a state that will secure their rights within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, as it has been agreed. We strive for an honorable solution that will transform our wishes into a functional system of governance with all the European characteristics.

We call on Turkey, one more time, to demonstrate its good will, but at the same time, we can only ascertain at the negotiating table whether or not this good will exists. We will be there, ready, creative and firm, with self-confidence, because we know what it is that we seek and how we can achieve it.

I wish to declare once again that we maintain hope and firmly believe that the occupation will come to an end and that on your next visit to our island, you will be able to visit every corner of our beautiful island.

Furthermore, I cannot omit the fact that I am impressed by IPA’s contributions to charity. For this particular event, “Children with special needs” is the chosen charity to be supported and thus, I would like to congratulate the Cyprus Section of IPA for their initiative.

Finally, I warmly congratulate the Chairman and the members of the Cyprus Section of the International Police Association and also the Heads of the Cyprus Police for the excellent organization of this Congress.
I declare the opening of the works of the 21st World Congress of the IPA and wish you every success in your deliberations.