Cyprus will rise again, President Nicos Anastasiades said yesterday, stressing his determination to take all necessary measures to beat the island’s economic woes that brought it to the brink of bankruptcy.

“We have been through tougher times and we managed to rise again,” Anastasiades said following talks with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Athens.

Referring to the Turkish invasion in 1974, Anastasiades said “the biggest catastrophe was transformed into an economic miracle because we have stubbornness and determination.”

Anastasiades said the two sides had a productive and fruitful discussion, which confirmed “our willingness for closer cooperation”, to the benefit of both countries.

The Cypriot president said that during his talks with Samaras, it emerged that there is a prospect of turning the crisis into an opportunity, in order to reverse negative developments faced by the two countries.

The Greek premier highlighted Cyprus’ importance for his country.

Samaras said Cyprus was Greece’s fourth biggest trade partner - Greek exports to the island exceed €1.0 billion - while Greek investment in Cyprus reached 27 per cent of the total and 71 per cent of all Greek investment in the eurozone.

He thanked Cyprus for offering employment opportunities to many Greeks, following the financial crisis.

“Consequently, current economic developments in Cyprus concern Greece directly and I am convinced that the president’s efforts to secure adequate financing on the best possible terms will soon bear fruit,” Samaras said.

The Greek prime minister added that Greeks are going through challenging times, both in Greece and Cyprus and he expressed his conviction that they will emerge stronger, having acquired a more significant geopolitical and geostrategic role.

With regard to the exploitation of Cyprus’ natural resources, Samaras highlighted the recent agreements signed between Cyprus and several big companies, which he said signified the important opportunities opening up in the Eastern Mediterranean.