In addition, according to a statement from AKEL, Mr Stefanou praised the contribution of Cyprus' religious groups."Maronites, Armenians and Latins of Cyprus are a living and integral part of our homeland," he said, adding that they are a catalyst in the social, economic and spiritual development and prosperity of our country.
"Our fellow Maronites, Armenians and Latins have Cyprus as their second homeland," he indicated, stressing that they have become an integral part of the Cypriot people without losing their identity, which they have added to the multicultural richness of our country.
The Secretary General of AKEL underlined the party's firm opposition to partition and its consistent commitment to the agreed basis for a solution of the ICTY with political equality as outlined in the relevant UN resolutions.
Furthermore, he noted that it is necessary for the Greek side to take concrete initiatives to restore its international credibility and to create momentum for the resumption of negotiations from the point where they were interrupted in Crans-Montana. "If we do not move for a solution, no one will do it for us," he indicated.
The contribution of the Maronites, Armenians and Latins to the spiritual struggles of our people remains special and distinct to this day, he said, adding that the religious groups are pioneers in important sectors and branches of the economy, such as trade, agriculture, crafts and business.
"The religious groups of Cyprus participate actively and unceasingly in social struggles for the progress and prosperity of our country, the workers and labourers," he said, stressing that Cyprus' multiculturalism is also due to the Maronites, Armenians and Latins, who have never abandoned their customs and traditions, but instead cultivate their language and culture.
Precisely for this reason, the AKEL Secretary General said, they have established schools, cultural and sports associations as well as charitable foundations and welfare associations to support people in need, warmth and solidarity. To cultivate the religious feeling of their people, they established dozens of places of worship, he added.
"Cyprus in its long history has been a point of meeting and cooperation of various peoples. Maronites, Armenians and Latins have contributed and continue to contribute to its cultural and heritage mosaic," he noted.
"For AKEL, the protection of religious groups is not just a contractual obligation. It is part of our ideology, our identity, our history," he said.
Furthermore, Mr Stefanou said that AKEL supports the efforts of the Maronite representatives to further cultivate Cypriot Arabic and to introduce Maronite students to their own culture.
Furthermore, he stressed that he supports the effort of the Armenians to further promote the Armenian language among the children attending their schools and to maintain the activity of associations and organisations that keep alive their history and culture, as well as the effort of the Latins to preserve the historical and social contribution of their religious group.
"The state must assist in the further development of education, in supporting the organisations and other structures that operate on the responsibility and initiative of the representatives of religious groups," concluded the Secretary General of AKEL.
"AKEL has always fought for the rights of the workers of Cyprus, but also of its minorities. Throughout time, it has been a supporter of the workers of our community," said Vartkes Mahtesyan, on behalf of the Armenian religious group, in his address.
"For us Armenians, who experienced the first great genocide of the turbulent 20th century, music, song and dance have more emotional significance, since they connect us in a unique way with our heroic and bloody history, our ancestors who were massacred and expelled, but also with our Turkish-occupied homeland, Cyprus," he added. In her address, Antonella Mantovani, on behalf of the Latin religious group, said that the Latins were constitutionally recognized in 1960 because of their long presence in Cyprus and their contribution to Cypriot society, especially in culture, education, arts, the Cypriot dialect, trade, architecture and medicine.
Furthermore, he noted that the Latins are an integral part of Cypriot society, and the only thing that separates them is their Catholic religion and their traditions.
Source: KYPE
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