The progress made in improving the lives of those living in the mountains justifies the president’s choices, mountains commissioner Costas Hambiarouris said on Tuesday handing over his annual report to President Nicos Anastasiades.

“The evaluation of the course of action of the national development strategy for mountainous communities and progress made fully justifies your policies and vision. You are the man who led the mountain communities on a path of integrated, multi-level, multi-dimensional sustainable development,” Hambiaouris said.

“A big thank you from me and from the residents of mountain communities for your love and support,” he added.

Receiving the report, the president said his predecessor Yiannakis Papadouris was a pioneer for the mountains, “but I am glad that you have deservedly succeeded him and through the government’s vision you have so far proven that when there is a vision and when there are people who consciously adopt the vision can turn it into actions.”

Hambiaouris is to work with the deputy ministry of culture to tour mountainous communities and evaluate how to better utilise their potential so agro-tourism projects are turned into substantial activities bringing young people back to the communities.