The presumed birthday of Socrates on May 20th, will be established as the “International Hellenophonie Day” (a day dedicated to the Greek-speaking world), with Greece and Cyprus coordinating their activities, that will also involve the diaspora.
Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Amanatidis met on Thursday with Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues and Overseas Cypriots Fotis Fotiou, in Nicosia, with the two men discussing bilateral cooperation and on ways to extent this with the Israeli and Armenian diaspora.
In statements after their meeting, Fotiou and Amanatidis noted that Cyprus and Greece are beacons of stability in the region, and referred to the trilateral cooperation schemes. As Fotiou said, the aim for Nicosia and Athens is to reach a memorandum of cooperation on diaspora issues, with Israel and Armenia respectively.
They also discussed about the potential of utilizing businessmen from overseas, attracting foreign investment and establishing an academic council, with the participation of Greek and Cypriot scholars.
On establishing the “Hellenophonie Day” Amanatidis said the process will be concluded soon and is expected to further enhance efforts to promote Greek language and culture. Cyprus, he added, has a special role to play in this.
Greece and Cyprus are working continuously together and promote jointly their national causes, the Greek Deputy Minister concluded.
From his part, Fotiou referred to the trilateral cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, noting that it has the potential to become “the most effective tool in promoting the national interests of our people”.
Fotiou said he was invited by the Israeli government next June to discuss about the prospect of signing a memorandum concerning diaspora cooperation. A similar effort is underway with Armenia, he added.
The effort, according to Fotiou, is to proceed with concrete actions and in an institutionalized manner, in order to have the desired results while furthering national interests, in cooperation with the Israel and Armenian lobbies.
The Presidential Commissioner briefed finally Amanatidis on encalved Cypriots and human rights violations by Turkey, as well as on the issue of missing persons. He referred to problems and delays due to Turkey`s non cooperation and referred to the need to exert pressure on Ankara in order to provide archive information. Greece is always in our side, in this issue as well, Fotiou noted.
Amanatidis accepted an invitation to address the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots, next July.
Source: abnaorg.eu