By Poly Pantelides
ARCHBISHOP Chrysostomos II said on Saturday that potential investors from Russia had expressed their desire to visit the island with a view to investing in tourism and energy, “and many other sectors”.
The Primate recently visited Russia and met its President, Vladimir Putin, in the context of a visit by the representatives of the Christian Orthodox religion celebrating the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. He has already promised an array of plans to help the island’s struggling economy, from building a private English school, to selling church land in Paphos to a consortium of Russian businessmen to build a hotel at a €70 million cost.
Speaking at Kykkos Monastery at an event to mark 100 years since the birth of Cyprus’ first President, Archbishop Makarios III and 36 years since his death, the Primate said foreign investors continued to trust Cyprus. “But we must be more flexible, more methodical, and more prepared,” he said.
He said that his Russian connections would come to visit after August 15 and suggested a close collaboration with the state, “because we need to work well together for investments to take place”. But he warned that in addition to the good will of the Church and investors, “state servants can play a positive role”. “If they don’t take things seriously, everything could be delayed,” he added. The Russian businessmen are interested in tourism, energy “and many sectors”, he said.
“I told them we are open to anything. Photovoltaics, oil and [natural] gas energy, and hotels,” he said.
He even put it out there that Cyprus – because of its climate – can welcome the elderly northerners that spend years in snow and rain and would like to come to Cyprus and spend here their earnings from the honest toil of a lifetime.”
Meanwhile, President Nicos Anastasiades and state officials all paid tribute to Archbishop Makarios and unveiled his imposing statue that is now placed by his burial grounds at Throni, near Kykkkos.
“We have to learn from our history, from the wisdom and glory and the leader but also from our mistakes” Anastasiades said.
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