Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian and Overseas Affairs Photis Photiou has praised the role of Cypriots living overseas and talked about their contribution to Cyprus’ efforts to reach a just solution of the Cyprus problem.
Photiou was addressing on Monday evening the opening ceremony of the 19th World Conference of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK), the International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) and the World Conference of Young Overseas Cypriots (NEPOMAK).
The Presidential Commissioner expressed his appreciation for the contribution of overseas Cypriots in the efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus issue and also urged Cypriot expatriates to intensify their efforts related to the humanitarian issue of missing persons. Hundreds of Greek Cypriots went missing during the 1974 Turkish invasion. There are also Turkish Cypriots missing since the early 1960s and during the summer of 1974. The fate of about 1,000 missing persons has yet to be established, primarily because Turkey refuses to cooperate fully, to open its military archives and help locate burial sites to exhume remains.
In his speech, the Presidential Commissioner pointed out the important role of the Cypriot youth abroad , and referred to the promotion of actions in the framework of the national strategy on overseas Cypriots as well as to the cooperation with other countries.
He extended a warm welcome to the young Cypriots living abroad, saying that their presence “gives us hope that the youth of our expatriates will continue the excellent work that began with great effort and sacrifices by previous generations of expatriates”.
Photiou referred to the important cooperation with countries of the diaspora, like Greece, and emphasized the tripartite cooperation with Greece and Israel.
He recalled that today a third meeting of the tripartite cooperation took place in Nicosia with the participation of youth from the three countries. During the meeting, he said they decided a series of common actions, events and ways to further strengthen existing cooperation.
He said that the main objective of this cooperation is to promote the three countries` common aspirations in the important foreign decision-making centers.
Photiou noted that in June a bilateral cooperation was established with Armenia and in October the first tripartite meeting between Cyprus, Greece and Armenia will take place in Nicosia, focusing on diaspora issues.
He also said that Cypriot enterpreneurs of the diaspora will also play their role in efforts to attract more foreign investments and promote Cyprus as a business centre. In cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency a series of business for a took place in countries where there is a strong presence of Cypriot expatriates, he said.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. The latest round of UN-led negotiations in early July this year ended inconclusively and parties to the peace talks are going through a period of recollection.
