THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE OF OVERSEAS CYPRIOTS BEGIN TONIGHT

 

The deliberations of the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots begin tonight

The deliberations of the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots by the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK), the International Coordinating Committee “Justice for Cyprus” (PSEKA) and the Youth of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (NEPOMAK) will be hosted in Cyprus, from 27/7/2022 to 29/7/2022, at St Raphael Resort, in Lemesos. The conference’s deliberations will be declared by the President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, tonight, at 7 p.m. at Lefkosia Municipal Theatre. The opening ceremony will be broadcast via live streaming, on the website of the Presidential Commissioner at www.commissionertothepresidency.gov.cy and on RIK  2 TV channel, by the CyBC which is the official media sponsor of the Conference. The Presidential Commissioner, Mr Photis Photiou, the President of the House of Representatives, Ms Annita Demetriou, the Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostomos B’ and the Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Zetta M. Makri, will address the ceremony. The Head of POMAK, Mr Andreas Papaevripides, the Head of PSEKA, Mr Philip Christopher and the President of NEPOMAK, Mr Christos Tuton, will also address the ceremony. In addition, a televised message by Senator – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of the USA, Mr Robert Menendez, will be delivered. The ceremony will begin with the screening of a film by the new Diaspora generation, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary since the foundation of NEPOMAK. The presentation of a poem dedicated to Cypriots of the Diaspora entitled “Children of the Diaspora” and an artistic program will follow. In the framework of the Conference’s deliberations, the Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Zetta M. Makri, will brief on the subject of Greek schools of the Diaspora. In the following days, delegates will be briefed, in closed sessions, by the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Ms Natasa Pilides, on the issues of hydrocarbons and energy policy, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, on Cyprus foreign policy and by the Presidential Commissioner, Mr Photis Photiou, on the National Strategy for Cypriots of the Diaspora. Additionally, the delegates will be briefed on investment opportunities by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA), Mr Evgenios Evgeniou, on issues relating to the missing persons by the Greek Cypriot member of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), Mr Leonidas Pantelides and the Presidential Commissioner, and on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem and Varosha by the Greek Cypriot Negotiator for the Cyprus problem, Mr Menelaos Menelaou. A presentation of the Online Platform of the Diaspora Cypriots, in cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, will take place in the framework of the Conference. Moreover, there will be an informative discussion on the issuance/renewal of identity cards/passports and other relevant issues regarding the Cypriots of the Diaspora, by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Interior, Mr Kornelios Korneliou and Mr Costas Constantinou, respectively. The delegates will also be informed about the programme of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry for young businessmen, as well as about defence issues by the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Dimokritos Zervakis. The delegates will have the opportunity to participate in discussions with leaders and representatives of political parties. The Central Committee of Overseas Cypriots organizations will be received by President Anastasiades at the Presidential Palace. The Secretary of State at the Department for Romanians Everywhere, Mr Georghe-Florin Cârciu, the State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Mr Nemanja Starović, the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs of Armenia, Mr Zareh Sinanyan, the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Mr John Chrysoulakis, and the Chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr Savvas Anastasiadis, will attend the Conference. The representatives of all overseas Cypriots organizations will perform a review of their work and an adoption of resolutions will mark the end of the deliberations on Friday, 29/7/2022. (EK)