Parliament President Annita Demetriou and Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis praised on Tuesday evening the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association’s (AHEPA) support and assistance, and also of the Archbishop of America Elpidophoros, in the struggle for the solution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of the island.
They attended an event organised by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in Zouchouri Square in Larnaca, within the framework of AHEPA’s 102nd Annual Supreme Congress which is taking place, for the first time, in Cyprus.
Demetriou said that it was necessary to continue the fight to liberate and see Cyprus free again and reunified.
She expressed her gratitude to the AHEPA Supreme President, Savas Tsivicos, for everything he is doing in AHEPA and for supporting Cyprus’ diplomatic and political missions.
‘I want to be optimistic and we are going to win this fight for Cyprus, for peace, for our principles’, Demetriou said, expressing the belief that AHEPA would be by Cyprus’
side.
The House President was presented with the ‘2024 Pericles Award’, as well as the ‘Daughters of Penelope’ award for perseverance, creativity, inspiration and empowerment of the role of women.
In his own greeting, Tourism Deputy Minister Koumis, who was presented with AHEPA’s ‘2024 Pericles Award’, said that the organisation of the conference in Cyprus was ‘of the utmost importance’ for the country, noting that it coincides ‘with the completion of 50 years since the tragic events of 1974 and the barbaric Turkish invasion’.
He also said that it brings multiple benefits for the country’s tourism as well as this was a unique opportunity to promote Cyprus, as a destination that combines rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and high-level infrastructure.
Referring to AHEPA, Koumis said that, since 1974, the organisation has been ‘a champion of justice’, developing many actions and interventions to support Cyprus’ rights as well as to promote peace and stability in the region. He also noted that it works
to further strengthen US-Cyprus bilateral relations.
Tsivicos, referring to the Cyprus problem, said that ‘we know that the road ahead of us will be a thorny one, but that does not mean that we should kneel down and surrender’, noting that is why diaspora Greeks would continue to struggle until the settlement of the Cyprus problem and until Cyprus is a proud member of the European Union without occupation troops and without anachronistic guarantees and intervention rights. We want, peace, Tsivicos added, ‘but we want a viable solution, a solution that ensures the future of Hellenism in Cyprus’.
He also said that, for the first time Cyprus is considered a strategic partner of the US, and a pillar of stability, peace and security in the Eastern Mediterranean ‘and we have earned the right to demand more’. We are no longer the poor relation, he added, noting ‘we have to replace begging with demand and it’s time to fight for what we believe in’.
Former Presidency Commissioner Photis Photiou, who was presented w
ith the ‘2024 Pericles Award’ said that this award was dedicated to the missing persons, especially the mothers who are still waiting to hear something about their missing sons. This is a painful issue, he said, adding that, after 50 years there were still 750 missing persons. Photiou thanked AHEPA for the work it is doing in the US as regards the missing persons issue.
Larnaca Mayor, Andreas Vyras, who received the ‘2024 Ahepa Public Service Award’, thanked the leadership of AHEPA for organising the Conference, which is hosted for the first time in Cyprus, in Larnaca, noting that this was ‘one of the greatest honours’ for the city.
He also expressed the hope that the next AHEPA conference would be held ‘in a free and reunited Cyprus’, as well as the conviction that AHEPA had ‘a very important role to play in this direction’.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of
negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.
Source: Cyprus News Agency