President Nicos Anastasiades will do his utmost to put an end to the 41 years of Turkish occupation and reunite the island, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, Deputy Government Spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos has said.
Speaking at an event organized by the Pancyprian Association of America to honor journalist Peter Petrides, Papadopoulos praised the struggles of overseas Cypriots in the promotion of the national issue.
Pambos Christoforou, who served as consul in America immediately after the invasion, said that there were many difficulties and wished that the state would honor the Pancyprian Association of America. If Cypriots around the world had offered as much as the Association has, things for Cyprus would have been different, he noted.
President of the Cyprus Federation of America Costas Tsentas said that it was the Pancyprian Association of America who had supported and promoted the Cyprus Federation.
“The heart of Cyprus beats wherever there is even one Cypriot,” he added.
He also said that the issue of creating a museum was discussed and thanked all diplomats who have served in the US for their support to Overseas Cypriots.
Christos Soteriades, treasurer of the Association, referred to Petros Petrides activities and contribution to Cypriots in the US. Petrides, in his speech, thanked the expatriates and the Association for their support to his writing and other work.
The 18th World Conference of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK and PSEKA) starts here today. The Conference will be opened by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades.
The President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Overseas Cypriots, Fotis Fotiou, the President of POMAK, Andreas Papaevripides, the President of PSEKA, Philip Christopher, and the President of NEPOMAK, Antonia Savvides, will also address the opening ceremony.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The leaders of the two communities have been engaged in UN-backed talks since mid May with the aim to reunite the island under a federal roof.