The focus will be leveraging the Diaspora’s influence across Europe, Australasia, the United States and Africa and the Middle East, to advance the Cyprus issue, said Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the government spokesperson of the Republic of Cyprus, at the Global Conference of Cypriots in the Diaspora, last week in Nicosia.
Upon the conclusion of the proceedings on Friday, August 25, four resolutions were approved by —World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK), World Coordinating Committee for the Cyprus Struggle (PSEKA), Youth of Overseas Cypriots (NEPOMAK)—in those four were included “Resolution 2023 to Turkish Cypriots,” a resolution in support of the Cypriot Australian MP, Kat Theophanous the Member for Northcote, and the “Africa Resolution”.
During a reception hosted by President Nicos Christodoulides, five Cypriots were honoured with the Medal of Excellence for their contributions, and one of he recipients was Charalambos Kapnoulas from the Federation of Cypriot Communities in Australia and New Zealand.
“…The overwhelming emotions that flood within me while standing amongst you… my prevailing sentiment of gratitude towards all of you, who never ceased to be ready to fight, and to defend our beloved Cyprus. And all of this, selflessly and without seeking anything in return from the homeland,” said an emotional Christodoulides.
“Your struggles continue to be a bright beacon, and a potent ally for all governments of the Republic of Cyprus, in our efforts above all, to end the occupation, and to find a viable solution that for the Cypriot people. …There is an honour, and a love for the homeland, without an expectation of reciprocity. You are the personification of this honour, and it has made you distinguished global ambassadors of our homeland.”
“We attribute the recognition that the State owes to five compatriots who have distinguished themselves for their virtuous character and their contributions; Mrs Ismini Michael, Mr Stelios Georgiades, Mr Kyriakos Tsioupras, Mr Paschalis Kitromilides, and Mr Charalambos Kapnoulas. Your contribution to the homeland will forever be met with gratitude, both personally from me and more importantly from the entire Cypriot people.”
Receiving the Medal, Mr Kapnoulas said, “Thank you for the honour. It is a moving moment and a vindication as well as an empowerment to continue doing what we have done, for all the years that God may grant us. The initiative surprised me, as I don’t feel like an expatriate. I feel like I belong here, I carry Cyprus in me… it lives within me, as it does in many diaspora, and those in the homeland.”
“This year’s Diaspora Conference has been the largest one to date,” said Letymbiotis, the government spokesperson.
“Our government’s goal is to maximize the potential of these individuals who stand by Cyprus, regardless of how many years they’ve been away from their homeland.”
“My discussions,” he said, “focused on how we can work with our compatriots, the diaspora, to raise awareness among the public in their countries, to foster closer relationships with the media, in order to promote our positions and our country.
“Primarily, we aim to promote our national issue and the positions which the President of the Republic has committed to in his major diplomatic effort and we can all benefit from a more active engagement with our Diaspora.”
Menendez address
On Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Menendez, addressed the conference attendees.
He said it was a wonderful to be in the “one and only capital of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia.”
He called the recent attacks by Turks against UN peacekeeping forces in the buffer zone of Pyla, unacceptable and a violation of International Law.
“Let’s call things what they are: completely unacceptable and a violation of International Law. Did President Erdogan do anything to prevent this? No, absolutely nothing,” Menendez said. He added that that this is not surprising considering earlier this year Erdogan secured his re-election in Turkey by “rigging the game in his favour”.
He raised Erdogan’s provocative proposal for the resettlement of Famagusta as a violation of UN Security Council Resolutions, and said that the US and the EU strongly condemns these actions.
“We will continue to condemn such actions, whether they occur in Varosha, Pyla, or anywhere else,” he said.
Menendez highlighted Cyprus’s geostrategic position, as “invaluable for collective security”, and expressed his desire for deeper cooperation in the energy sector, where Cyprus has much to offer.
He then said that U.S. President Joe Biden was making the resolution of the Cyprus issue a top priority in his foreign policy agenda.
“We must move from mere condemnation to action,” Menendez said.
He ended by saying that that the struggle for Cyprus “will not conclude until the last Turkish soldier departs from the island.”
The proceedings of the World Conference of Cypriot Diaspora concluded, featuring references to resolutions pertaining to the Cyprus issue, including one specifically directed at Turkish Cypriots. The conference took place in Nicosia from August 22 to 25.
Seeking harmonious relations with Turkish Cypriots
In the “Message to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots,” the diaspora members said that they aim to cultivate harmonious relations between the two communities under conditions of freedom, democracy, and mutual respect, “looking forward to the time of reunification of our homeland. They urged Turkish Cypriots, including diaspora Turkish Cypriots, to “join hands” with Greek Cypriots “to end the Turkish occupation” and reunify the island under “conditions of peace, security, and prosperity” … condemning the illegal actions of the occupying authorities in the fenced area and in Pyla, as well as the attack on UNFICYP.”
Additionally, they consider it a “significant duty to collectively work towards restoring the rightful residents of Famagusta.”
In Resolution 2023, the diaspora expresses disappointment that efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue have not yielded positive results due to the “negative and unyielding stance of the Turkish side.”
They condemned “Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriot leader’s persistence in seeking recognition of the equal sovereignty and co-equal international status of the secessionist entity, undermining the prospects for resuming the negotiation process under the agreed UN framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”
Furthermore,the members denounced all unilateral steps in Varosha “and the unacceptable announcements made by the Turkish President and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community on July 20th, 2021, regarding the ‘second phase of opening Varosha’.”
In the resolution, they condemned, “Turkey’s systematic policy of exploiting illegal migration” and express “serious concern” about increasing efforts, in the occupied part of Cyprus, to permanently alter the island’s demographic character.
The organisations backed efforts to restart the negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General’s Mission, with the aim being “a comprehensive, just, sustainable, and implementable solution to the Cyprus issue.” They also expressed “full support” for the initiative of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides.
The World Conference highlighted Turkey’s attempts to infiltrate Africa, diplomatically through the opening of over 40 new embassies, and through economic agreements with African countries. They called on the Republic of Cyprus to pay “special attention to, and fully staffing the Diplomatic Missions in Africa, and expediting parallel accreditations,” while calling for the opening of new embassies.
Donation of Medical Equipment
Following her recent visit to Australia for the commemorations of the coup and Turkish invasion, Deputy Government Spokesperson of the Republic of Cyprus, Doxa Komodromou, talked of an initiative from the philanthropic “Australian Hellenic Medical Charity” and the Adelaida Cypriot Community to donate medical equipment to support the Pediatric Clinic of Makarios Hospital.
The announcement will be made official on Monday, August 28 2023, at 3pm (local time) in the Cabinet Room of the Presidential Palace.
The meeting will be attended by the Minister of Health, Komodromou, the Director of Makarios Hospital, the Director of OKYPY (Cyprus Organization of Pharmaceutical Services), the Director of the Pediatric Clinic, and the pediatrician-infectologist, Dr Maria Koliou.
Present will also be the Greek-Australian Professor, Chief Medical Advisor of the “Australian Hellenic Medical Charity,” and President of the Adelaida Cypriot Community, Dr Andreas Eudokiou.
