Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos met within the framework of his official visit to Cyprus, on Thursday, 31 October, with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Ioannis Kasoulides,. During their meeting they looked in depth at the cooperation between the two Ministries on issues concerning Hellenism Abroad, and they signed a Cooperation Programme between the Greek Foreign Ministry’s Secretariat General for Greeks Abroad and the Cypriot Foreign Ministry’s Service for Overseas and Repatriated Cypriots.
Messrs. Gerontopoulos and Kasoulides also discussed developments in the Cyprus issue and issues of mutual interest, on which there was a coincidence of views, and it was stressed that Greece and Cyprus are moving ahead together.
Following the meeting and the signing of the cooperation programme on issues concerning Hellenism abroad, Mr. Gerontopoulos stated that “the discussion we had with Mr. Kasoulides showed the coincidence of views that exists in all sectors, and this is especially important now that the Cyprus issue is entering a new phase. The first issue that has to be achieved is the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops from Cyprus, so that the Republic of Cyprus can move ahead both free and united, based on the principles and resolutions of the United Nations. Naturally, we mustn’t forget that Cyprus is an equal member of the European Union, and that it must be governed by the same principles that are in effect for all the countries that are members of the EU.
I think that the agreement we signed on Greek-Cypriot cooperation on issues concerning Hellenism abroad is very important. It shows that we are moving ahead together. It provides for the development of joint actions and initiatives, with the aim of sustaining the national and cultural identity of Hellenes abroad, as well as for the utilization of the Hellenic Diaspora to the benefit of our national interests. That is why I think the initiative we undertook and the signing of this particular programme are very important. I want to thank the Foreign Minister and the Cypriot government for their cooperation on issues that concern Hellenes abroad and throughout the world.”
Mr. Kasoulides pointed out that “the deepening of cooperation with Greece and the creation of this automatic coordination of actions in a number of sectors, with emphasis on the sectors of education, art and culture, is very important. In the current difficult state of affairs for our country and for Hellenism in general, the role of global Hellenism takes on very great importance. Their assistance in promoting national stances is rendered important and vital. I believe that the signing of this cooperation programme will mark the beginning of a comprehensive and more systematic collaboration between Cyprus and Greece on issues concerning Hellenism abroad, to the benefit of their interests and our national issues.”
November 1, 2013