The 5th Cyprus-Greece-Armenia Trilateral Meeting on Diaspora Issues was held on Friday, June 24, in Patras, Greece.
“The three countries are united by many things, such as history, common struggles for vindication and the challenges they have to face. Cypriots, Greeks, and Armenians can work together and make good use of the potential of our expatriates and the organised groups of our Diaspora”, Presidential Commissioner of Cyprus Photis Photiou said.
At the same time, Photiou expressed Cyprus’ full support to Greece as regards the ongoing and escalated provocations by Turkey which “are dynamiting the climate in Greek-Turkish relations”.
Moreover, the Presidential Commissioner stressed that “Turkey continues to refuse to accept the Republic of Cyprus’ proposal for Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and continues its violations in the enclosed area of Varosha, which violate the relevant UN Security Council resolutions”.
He added that the Turkish Cypriot side should return to negotiations to resume the talks from where they have been interrupted in Crans Montana and on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions for a bizonal bicommunal federation.
As regards the Trilateral Meeting’s agenda Photiou said that the three countries have strong diasporas in important countries such as the USA, France, England, and Australia. “We will activate, through this cooperation, the organised groups of our Diasporas in order to bring them closer together,” he noted.
During the Trilateral Meeting a Memorandum of Cooperation on Diaspora Issues was signed, with the goal of further deepening cooperation between Cyprus-Greece-Armenia. The Memorandum specifies the three countries’ further joint actions on the sectors of youth participation, culture, traditions and exchange of best practices, Photiou explained.
On his part, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Katsaniotis said that the three countries have a rich history and strong spiritual and cultural ties, which are further strengthened by the Orthodox faith.
“Recognising the importance of cooperation and the remarkable role of the Diaspora, today we are taking another important step to strengthen trilateral cooperation on Diaspora issues by signing a Memorandum of Understanding”, Katsaniotis said.
“We are working together for the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the Genocide of the Pontians, as well as for the international condemnation of the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus”, Katsaniotiis said, adding that the Cyprus Problem is “primarily an international issue of illegal invasion and occupation.”
Source: Cyprus News Agency