ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS: We had the pleasure today of having with us the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Greece. We listened to him with great attention. He, too, listened to us. We briefed the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on the economic situation prevailing in our land. Of course, he knows this much better that we do.
But, as the Church, we had and have clear views on and an interest in our homeland, Cyprus, and the Mother Homeland. We are at the disposal of the governments of Greece and Cyprus. Whatever we can do to help, in any sector – national or Greek – we will do it with great love, because this is our duty to this people.
E. VENIZELOS: I thank His Beatitude warmly for the warm reception and the sentiments of affection towards Greece, the government and me personally. Every meeting with the Archbishop is especially useful because he speaks frankly. What he says in public, he also says in one-on-one talks. So one knows to whom one is speaking and what the framework, the direction, of his thinking is. This is exceptionally useful.
The role of the Church, and in this case the Church of Cyprus, is decisive in safeguarding social cohesion during this period, during the crisis that has struck the Cypriot people, as it has struck the Greek people as well. But the role of the Church is also always decisive in formulating national strategy, because national strategy means the broadest possible consensus.
Another dimension that is very useful and that we looked at is the exercising of ecclesiastical diplomacy, because the Church, in its own field, undertakes many important initiatives that can help us in confronting our national issues, which are unfortunately pending for forty years, as well as in confronting the newer problems that have arisen due to the economic state of affairs.
So I express my thanks for and pleasure at this very useful meeting I had with His Beatitude the Archbishop.
July 5, 2013