The Commissioner for the Presidency, Fotis Fotiou, is on an official visit to Beirut, in the framework of the first Tripartite Meeting between Cyprus, Greece and Lebanon, on Diaspora Issues, during which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the three countries.
According to a statement by the Presidency, this is "a historic moment" for the relations between the three countries. Cooperation on Diaspora issues[/B] will further strengthen the already very good relations between the three countries in many other areas.
It is stated that the MoU aims to bring the Diaspora of the three countries closer together. The Cyprus-Greece-Lebanon organised groups, through their cooperation on issues of common interest, will be able to organise joint events and exchange know-how and best practices. Furthermore, it will enable the utilization of the expatriates of the three countries in countries with a strong Diaspora, such as the US, the UK, France and Canada, and promote the interests of the three countries in important decision-making centres.
Lebanon was represented by Abdallah Bou Habib, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, while the Greek side was represented by Andreas Katsaniotis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, responsible for Expatriate Hellenism.
As mentioned, special importance was given to the new generation of our expatriates both in the meeting and in the Memorandum, since they are the future of the Diaspora and its future leaders. Through its signing, the young people of the three countries will come closer together and learn about the history and traditions of each of these countries through joint activities and events.
Within the framework of his visit to Lebanon, the Commissioner of the Presidency had the opportunity to meet Bishop Elia Audi, Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, of the Archdiocese of Beirut in Lebanon and to discuss the problems faced by our Orthodox Churches there.
During the meeting, the Commissioner assured the Metropolitan of the support of both himself and the Government and then thanked him for his work and contribution to the community.
Mr. Fotiou concluded his visit to Lebanon with a meeting with the Catholic Patriarch of the Armenians of Cilicia, His Beatitude Aram I, with whom he discussed the close relations between Cyprus and the Armenian community, as well as further areas of cooperation concerning history, traditions and language, through various cultural and other events.
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