Presidential Commissioner

Youth of the Diaspora involvement in 'Nostos' the focus of a meeting between Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, CNA - CYPRUS/Nicosia 23/04/2021

The "Nostos 4" program will bring together for the first time young expatriates from Cyprus, Greece and Egypt on a trip to the three countries, Fotis Fotiou, Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues and Overseas Cypriots said on Friday at a press conference after a tripartite meeting held in Nicosia on Diaspora issues.

The meeting was also attended by Kostas Vlasis, Greek Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister responsible for Greeks Abroad and Egyptian Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram.

In his statements, Fotiou said that Cyprus, Greece and Egypt are now pillars of stability, peace and security in the Eastern Mediterranean region, stressing that the tripartite cooperation, is based on international law and promotes a positive agenda, and it is not turning against anyone`s interests or aspirations.

Fotiou said they have joined forces to serve their common interests, especially in strong decision-making centres abroad, where all three countries have a big Diaspora.

These partnerships strengthen the relations between the three countries and bring our peoples closer, especially abroad, he said, adding that with the "Nostos" program in Alexandria, London and Melbourne, they have managed to bring young people, organisations, businessmen, doctors, academics of the Diaspora closer.

One of the important actions we decided today, he said, is the continuation of the Nostos program. He added that `Nostos 4` will be held in the summer and will be dedicated to the new generation of the Diaspora. They agreed, he added, that groups of young people from the Diaspora will have a joint trip to the three countries, in the summer, where they will address various issues in each country.

Photiou thanked his counterparts for accepting the invitation to attend the World Conference on the Diaspora of Cypriots Abroad, which will be held in physical presence on August 3-6 in Cyprus, provided that the pandemic conditions allow.

Egyptian Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram referred to the decision to organise a trip of young people from the three countries to these countries to discuss history, culture and give their own ideas for the promotion of the "Nostos" program.

Those who will take part in this trip, she added, will have the responsibility to prepare a report with ideas on how they can promote relations between the three countries, which will be then presented to the Presidents of the three countries.

She also said that the International Federation for Migration, who was present in Alexandria in 2018, had a very positive impression of the "Nostos" program and has expressed the intention for "Nostos" to be presented as an "international achievement".

Kostas Vlasis, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister responsible for Greeks Abroad said particular emphasis was placed on projects related to youth and culture. The cooperation of the three countries in the field of Diaspora he said, can be seen in the light of the relations that the three countries have developed in recent years, in order to create an axis of cooperation, prosperity, security and peace in the wider region.

Our role, he added, is to focus on the relations between our peoples wherever they live, adding that this way "we deepen even more the relations of our states."

The next tripartite meeting will take place in September or October in Cairo, where a new memorandum of cooperation on Diaspora issues, will be signed. In addition, an event will take place there marking the 200 years anniversary of the Greek Revolution in 1821.

The last tripartite meeting took place in Athens in December 2019.

Fotiou also thanked the other two countries for their support as regards the Cyprus issue, saying that this support is of great importance ahead of the informal meeting on Cyprus that will take place in Geneva next week.

He reiterated that the solution of the Cyprus problem must only be achieved on the basis of the UNSC resolutions and decisions.

The Greek official said that Athens will participate in the informal meeting in Geneva with the aim to reach a common ground that would lead to a substantive negotiation for the solution of the Cyprus issue. The solution, he stressed, must be based on the UNSC resolutions, the European law and lead to a functional and viable bizonal, bicommunal federation, free from occupation troops and guarantee systems.

Concluding, he stressed that Turkey`s illegal and provocative actions not only in Cyprus but in the wider region, as well as its attempts to create faits accomplis are totally condemnable and do not at all contribute to security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The UN Secretary-General invited all parties involved to attend an informal five-plus-one meeting on the Cyprus issue in Geneva, Switzerland, from 27 to 29 April 2021.

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CNA/RP/AAR/EPH/2021
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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Youth of the Diaspora involvement in 'Nostos' the focus of a meeting between Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, CNA - CYPRUS/Nicosia 23/04/2021