First of all, on behalf of the President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, I would like to express our deep appreciation for the work carried out in the framework of this specific effort to create bridges of communication and joint actions between the schools of Cyprus, Greece and the communities of the Hellenic world.
The fact that this year the competition has been put under the auspices of the Presidents of the Republic of both Greece and Cyprus, demonstrates the great importance and the usefulness of the work that is being carried out to support our national educational needs through the cooperation of schools, teachers and students.
In particular, we warmly congratulate the Primary Education Directorate of Serres for the implementation for one more year of the Programme "Cyprus, Greece, Homogeneity.
We warmly congratulate the schools and students who excelled in the competition, as well as, of course, the teachers, thanks to whose guidance, knowledge and inspiration the objectives of the programme are achieved.
The themes of the competition are wide-ranging, as are the means of expressing the children's concerns. What they have in common, however, is Hellenism in Cyprus, its prospects and problems, as well as the prospects of the wider Hellenism, given that we are fighting for its present and future together and in a spirit of unity and brotherhood.
Based on this, I believe that today's event goes beyond the meaning of a simple ceremony of announcing and awarding prizes. It is more a celebration of the affirmation of the common patriotism and Greekness that distinguishes our history and culture: Our common principles, values and ideals. Of our one and only national identity.
Our common foundation is the Greek language, the preservation of which we must support and strengthen in the modern multicultural world with its many challenges and problems.
Particularly with regard to the Diaspora, it is universally acknowledged that the cultural survival of Hellenism is based on Paideia. And Paideia does not exist without the Greek Language. Only by learning Greek will the new generation of our expatriates be able to understand in its fullness our culture, ancient, modern and contemporary. That is why the learning and dissemination of the Greek language, especially among the new generation of expatriate Greeks, always remains one of our priorities with special programs and collaborations with universities and expatriate organizations.
I congratulate once again the contributors of this important programme and wish them all the success of their noble goals.
(PM/MB/IK)
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