During the event, President Christofias delivered a speech to a gathering of around 160 people on his vision for the reunification of Cyprus.

In his introductory remarks, President Christofias, stressed that his vision for the future of Cyprus is a vision for the reunification of the island and for a federal bizonal, bicommunal Republic of Cyprus and that he considers his vision to be "the vision of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who love their homeland".

Noting that the Cyprus problem did not occur in 2004 with the rejection of the Annan Plan, the President briefly outlined the problem and stressed that the solution of bizonal, bicommunal federation constitutes a historic compromise for the Greek Cypriot community.

President Christofias referred to the common struggles of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, stressing that he and his party always supported the rights of all Cypriots, irrespective of national origin and religion.

The safeguarding of the rights of the Turkish Cypriots should not however violate the rights of the Greek Cypriot community, he said, adding that a balanced solution should be found that would take into consideration the rights and the expectations of both communities.

“This should be our common goal with my good friend Mr Mehmet Ali Talat and we should remain committed in this direction” he added.

The President pointed out that the partnership created between the two communities in 1960 with the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus did not have a chance to flourish and that both sides share part of the responsibility.

He said that apart from the fact that the history of the problem should be taken into consideration, the two sides should also take into account the principles based on which the Republic of Cyprus would be transformed from a unified state to a bizonal, bicommunal federal state with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality.

The President then stressed that in all the agreements that the two communities have signed or accepted from the Turkish invasion onwards and in all the UN resolutions there is a reference to two communities and this is why he was talking about a bizonal bicommunal federation.

Unfortunately, he added, both Mr Denktash and more recently Turkey’s National Security Council speak about two peoples and two states.

The President further noted that he is ready to sit down and talk in all sincerity with Mr Talat and exchange views which are based on the agreed parameters of the solution.

Concluding, the President of the Republic said that he is willing to work in order to find a solution that will be for the Cypriots by the Cypriots, adding that the Cypriots must be let free to deal with the future of their country.