Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said that they will continue to work tirelessly to end the pandemic and return to normal life as soon as possible.

In a message issued on Friday to mark the New Year, Sucuoğlu said that the past year had been marred with various difficulties and hardships as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“We have all been forced to abandon many of our habits and routines. Our priorities shifted in the past year and our will was tested on many fronts, particularly the economy,” he said.

The prime minister said that the pandemic had revealed how important health is and how connected it is with economic activity.

Touching upon the government’s priorities for the coming year, Sucuoğlu said that they will be working towards reviving the economy as well as improving the living standards of the Turkish Cypriot people.

“Despite the fact that we are an election government we experienced a major economic crisis as a result in the fall of the value of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies. We tried to mitigate the effects of the crisis by handing out assistance to families as well as making out payments so that people can continue to spend,” he said.

Sucuoğlu also praised the health care workers and their efforts over the past two years in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

On the Cyprus Issue, he reiterated the government’s support for a two-state solution in Cyprus based on sovereign equality.

“For the first time we tabled our position in favour of a two-state solution which was recorded in UN documents. We want Cyprus to become an island of peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, setting an example to the region and the world. But we will never abandon our freedom, independence, sovereignty and state,” Prime Minister Sucuoğlu said.

He concluded his message by stating that the government will continue its struggle, economically and politically, with the support of motherland Turkey.