NICOSIA - President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias pointed out on Friday that, despite the problems in negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem and despite the fact that progress was far from satisfactory, the Greek Cypriot side would continue the negotiations in order to achieve a solution.He also called on the people of Cyprus to continue supporting efforts for a just, viable and functional settlement, adding that unity was imperative in order to achieve this aim.Speaking at an event organised in Panayia to honour the first President of the Republic, the late Archbishop Makarios III, and those who lost their lives in the 1974 coup d' etat and Turkish invasion of the island, President Christofias referred to the life and work of Makarios III and noted that ''we bear the responsibility to justify Cyprus and our people, we bear the responsibility towards those who left and the younger generations to liberate and reunify our homeland.''''I stress once again that the first step in this direction is unity on the home front because, as the tragedy of 1974 teaches us, we Cyprus also bear responsibility for the Cypriot tragedy,'' he said.He also reiterated his ''promise to continue and intensify efforts to justify our people, for the return of the refugees to their ancestral homes, to justify our enclaved persons and the struggles of our dead heroes, to justify the relatives of the missing persons, who have been living a daily Calvary for the past 36 years, with the aim of their life being the determination of the fate of the loved ones.''Referring to efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, President Christofias said that ''our policy for a solution is based on a comprehensive strategy,'' adding that ''we aim, through the development of specific initiatives, to achieve the cooperation of the various factors that can play a role in the solution of the Cyprus problem.''President Christofias also mentioned the recent proposals submitted by the Greek Cypriot side, and expressed hope that ''they will give new impetus to the process.''He explained that the Greek Cypriot side proposes linking the chapters of property, territorial readjustments and immigration, citizenship, foreigners and asylum, the delivery of Varosha to the UN so that the town can be restored and returned to its legitimate citizens, the restoration of Famagusta which is common cultural heritage, the opening of Famagusta port under EU auspices to the benefit of all parties, and an international conference when agreement on internal aspects is close with the participation of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the EU, the guarantor powers, the Republic of Cyprus and the two communities on the island.''The solution of the Cyprus problem is a difficult aim to reach but it is a necessity, because through a solution will the future of the country and our people be secured,'' he said, adding that ''the basis of a solution is a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined in relevant UN resolutions, for a single state with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international identity, a state which will secure the unity of the area, the people, the institutions and the economy.''President Christofias assured that, ''despite the problems we are facing in the negotiations and despite the fact that progress achieved is not what we would have wished for, we will continue the negotiations to materialise the vision of the solution,'' adding that ''there is no other way to achieve a solution.'' He added that ''our positions and aims are clear and we know what we want, what we are pursuing, and we are working hard to achieve this.''