President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou said that whatever the outcome of Sunday`s referendum in Greece, the people of southern Europe send the European institutions the message that the EU must change direction and abandon austerity.
Speaking from the western coastal city of Paphos, Omirou noted that austerity leads to poverty, social exclusion and unemployment.
“This is the message that the European societies send, regardless of any referendum”, he said.
Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II, who was also speaking to media in Paphos on Sunday, said that whatever the outcome of the Greek referendum Europe would remain tough, and that Cyprus had experienced the same attitude two years ago.
The Greek people, he noted, must work hard for their economy to recover and should not expect much from Europe.
CNA/KP/KD/TNE 2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY