The Cyprus problem was the focal point of the conference of the Federation of Cypriot-American Organizations that was successfully held on June 4, at the Terrace on the Park in New York.
Representatives of all associations and members of the Federation from all over America took part in the conference and debated on their future action plan.
The conference was addressed, inter alia, by the Permanent Representatives of Cyprus and Greece to the United Nations, Ambassadors Andreas Hadjichrysanthou and Maria Theofili, the Consuls General of Greece and Cyprus in New York, Michalis Fyrillas and Konstantinos Koutras, the Archbishop of America Elpidoforos, Presidents and members of many Cypriot organizations, while the Cypriot government was represented by the Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou, a press release says.
The President of the Cyprus Federation of America, Kyriakos Papastylianou, in his speech to the conference pointed out the need to register Greek Cypriots in America, an effort that began on the initiative of the Cypriot unions, and called for continued support from the Cypriot government.
PSEKA President Philip Christopher, referred to the change of attitude of the American Government that has been observed in recent years towards Greece and Cyprus in relation to Turkey and pointed out that it is useful to increase the number of Greek members in Congress to promote national issues.
The Consul General of Cyprus in New York, underlined the work the Cypriot unions are doing, saying: “Despite the pandemic, you continue your activities, you continue to be committed to what you are doing and this is very important.”
The Consul General of Greece in New York, Konstantinos Koutras, said that the Cypriot Hellenism participates uninterruptedly and with special courage in all the great struggles of the nation.
Ambassador Hadjichrysanthou gave a speech on the Cyprus issue and what is expected from the UN. Regarding the resolution, which will be adopted at the end of July, he noted that it should include stronger references stressing that the basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem is clear in accordance with previous resolutions. He also pointed out the need to also strengthen the references to Varosia and the missing persons issue and called on all organizations to exert their influence in Washington in order to achieve a successful resolution.
The Greek Ambassador to the UN, Maria Theofili, pointed out that, in view of the Ukrainian crisis, Turkey is trying to exploit well-known ambiguous tactics in order to promote its revisionist plans both towards Cyprus and Greece and in the wider region.
“Cyprus issue, and not only the Ukrainian issue, is primarily a matter of invasion and occupation. Greece does not accept and will never accept the consequences of the Turkish invasion and this is exactly the message that together with the Cyprus Permanent Representative we promote every day within the UN,” Theofili said.
Source: Cyprus News Agency