NICOSIA - Cyprus President Demetris Christofias stresses that the Commonwealth supports the efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem, and hopes it will continue to express its solidarity towards Cyprus.“The Commonwealth has been involved with the Cyprus problem since August 1964, following the intercommunal clashes at the end of 1963 and the deployment of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus. After the Turkish invasion in 1974, the Commonwealth held a principled position and in its Final Communique at CHOGM in Jamaica 1975 stated its solidarity to Cyprus”, Christofias notes.In a speech which was included in the official publication of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2009, President Christofias points out that since 1975 a statement on Cyprus has been included in every CHOGM Final Communique in support of the continuing efforts to reach a settlement to the Cyprus problem, in line with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the principles of the UN Charter and the Commonwealth. “We take it for granted that the Commonwealth will continue to express its solidarity towards Cyprus and will continue to support the efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. A solution that will lead to the restoration of the human rights and the basic freedoms of the people of Cyprus, will abolish the de facto division and will reunify the territory, the people, the institutions and the economy of Cyprus”, Christofias stresses. Additionally, Cyprus President notes that the mechanisms of soft power are essential in our world, and that it is clear that nothing can be achieved by force. “The Commonwealth, as a soft power actor, supports all efforts for a peaceful settlement of all disputes and conflicts. The demand for global solidarity, however still remains. The fact that, at least in most cases, countries from all over the world exchange views and negotiate, instead of using force to fulfill their ambitions, is a positive feature of our post-war world”, he adds.