Undoubtedly, the participation of students in literary and artistic competitions is of particular importance, as they have the opportunity to cultivate and highlight their skills in literary expression and creation and, at the same time, to make the virtues and values of Greek literature their own.
All the more so when it comes to competitions of the prestige and level of the Panhellenic and Pancyprian Literary and Artistic Contest of the Hellenic Cultural Club of Cypriots of Greece, which is conducted in cooperation with the Directorates of Primary, Secondary General and Secondary Technical Vocational Education and Training of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth.
Surely the theme of the competition, "from the uprooting of 1922 to the refugee of 1974 and today", touches the soul of each of us. This year marks a century since the Asia Minor catastrophe and precisely because we ought to remember and honour, the Council of Ministers has proclaimed 1922 as a year of remembrance and account of the contribution of Asia Minor Hellenism.
In the same context, we also include the duty of honour and respect to the Greeks of Pontus who were the first to experience the brutality and barbarity of the neo-Turks at the beginning of the 20th century. This was followed by the persecution of the Armenians and, subsequently, of the Hellenes of Nea Ionia and the other territories of Asia Minor, where the Greek civilization had flourished for centuries. Today, by reintroducing, without concealing it, neo-Ottoman approaches and tactics that blatantly conflict with international law, it seeks to gain a hegemonic role in the wider region at the expense of the sovereign rights not only of Cyprus and Greece, but also at the expense of most other countries in the region.
The black anniversary of the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor catastrophe calls for reflection and unanimity. The commemoration of the unforgettable homelands of Pontus, Smyrna, Ephesus and Alikarnassos, Amaseia and Allahia, the land that was the ancient cradle of Greek civilization, is the best guarantee for the generations that have passed and the generations to come.
Encouraging children to use the theme of the competition to express their thoughts and feelings about refugeeism, the value of the homeland, the painful consequences of war and the need for solidarity and support for people uprooted from their homeland, I believe that it is in line with the need to redefine our goals and course where necessary, so that with unity and unanimity we can ensure a promising future for new generations in a free, democratic and secure homeland.
My Office and I personally highly appreciate every effort that aims at the cultivation of culture and the preservation of our history through the strengthening and dissemination of the Greek language, something to which we particularly aim with our programmes that are mainly aimed at the youngest of our expatriates, in every corner of the world.
For us especially the Greeks of Cyprus, the Greek language is our first and most important feature, the one that gives us a special strength in our existence and arms us with vigour and determination in our struggle to ensure the survival of Hellenism in this corner of the Eastern Mediterranean.
No other language is recognised as much as this one for its contribution to the development of European and world civilisation. Its role has been fundamental throughout the centuries. Since antiquity it has been the vehicle for the formation and dissemination of important scientific theories, philosophical considerations and literary texts. Throughout the centuries, the Greek language has made a decisive contribution to the spread of Greek culture, surviving to this day as one of the longest living languages in the world.
It is the language in which great philosophers, poets and writers have left us their work. It is the language of the Old and New Testaments. It is the language that documents and reflects the continuity of Hellenism from antiquity to the present day. It is the vehicle that encapsulates the ideals and values of our nation.
It is in this context of our interest in strengthening the dissemination of the Greek language that we welcome today's event, having the strong belief that events that promote culture, such as this one, with the participation of young people in particular, cultivate aptitudes and skills that bring them even closer to our roots, strengthening the value of the Greek language and with it our national identity.
Thus, I am sure that the children's participation with the works they have submitted for the purposes of the competition send out a message of optimism for tomorrow, a message that we, the older ones, should particularly appreciate, bearing in mind the strength we must have as a whole in facing the many challenges of our times.
I warmly congratulate the children who will be awarded, as well as the organizers of the competition and the Pancyprian Student Poetry Symposium "Afrodisia 2022" which will take place in the context of today's event with the aim of becoming an institution.
With the knowledge, values and virtues they pass on to children, our intellectuals literally guard Thermopiles. We thank them.
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Note: The greeting of the Commissioner of the Presidency was read by the Officer of his Office, Mrs. Thalia P. Antoniou.
(PM/EC)
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