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- Ελληνικά
University Campus, Aglantzia, August 22, 2023
My old friend, what are you looking for?
You've been away for years
Under foreign skies
Far from your own land
My old friend, rest
We'll go up together
My old friend, rest
We'll go up together
We'll rest together
My old friend
Your home is what you see
In a few your friends and family
Sweets to welcome you.
(The Return of the Stranger, George Seferis)
I have chosen an excerpt from the poem "The Return of the Stranger" by George Seferis to welcome you to your home, to your place, to your Homeland, to our Cyprus. Geographically, our small island is located at the crossroads of 3 continents, but through your presence, your action, it reaches all 5 continents and 7 seas. It is the truth that you all add an ecumenical dimension to the people of Cyprus, to Cypriot Hellenism. Your presence tonight sends a clear message: not only is Cyprus forever in your hearts, but also that the heart of Cyprus, through you, pulsates around the world.
It is with great emotion that I address this welcome today at the opening of our diaspora conference, the largest to date. For decades, our expatriates have been present and present in every struggle, in every call, to project and contribute, to strengthen our National aspirations, a global safety net for their particular homeland. Brilliant scientists, businessmen, active citizens with a strong presence in the countries in which you live, you are the best ambassadors of our Cyprus, our martyred homeland.
Our organizations, the POMAK, the PSEKA, the NEPOMAK, the Presidents, members and other executives of our expatriate federations, constitute a valuable capital of catalytic contribution to our timeless struggles.
Your anxiety and love for the future of Cyprus, for the liberation of the occupation, for a just, peaceful, final solution of the Cyprus problem have not only not diminished but you have also passed them on to the younger generations. And here I would like to make a special reference to our 45 young people of NEPOMAK. Young people of the diaspora of the 2nd, 3rd or even 4th generation who have Cyprus deeply rooted in their hearts. Your presence tonight fills us with optimism and arms us with strength, you are the future of the diaspora and our country. We have a historic duty and responsibility to invest in the new generation, to keep the flame of hope and perspective that you represent unquenched. We are grateful and admire you, you and the generations that preceded you and preserved your ancestral identity. For if today we have young men and women excelling in the countries in which they live, if we enjoy the national pride of our remarkable expatriates, it is because many years ago some took the trouble to plant the Tree of Diaspora and the preservation of national identity. Opinions and methods may have changed but the principles are the same. The leaves have changed, but rest assured , the roots are kept intact. They taught us what selflessness, vision, values, ideals and patriotism mean. Now it is time for the younger generation to pay you back, and we are sure that these young people will surpass us. It is for this reason that we attach primary importance to the issues concerning our young expatriates, with programmes to encourage their involvement in the parochial and political events of their places of residence, but also with programmes of frequent contact and acquaintance with Cyprus, with emphasis on learning our language, history and culture.
Remember, friends of NEPOMAK, Cyprus will always be your home, your roots.
The formulation and implementation of the National Strategy for the Diaspora is a priority for the Government and for the President of the Republic himself. We are working on various ideas to upgrade our communication with you in order to bring you even closer to us, but also to bring us closer to you. We will also enhance your information on developments concerning Cyprus, especially in areas that touch our roots, Education, Culture and History. We want to hear your suggestions, your proposals, so that we can formulate a framework that will have an impact and added value, through a structured effort that will make use of modern technology and the possibilities that it offers us. We especially want to upgrade our contact with the younger generation, to maintain their relationship with Cyprus.
A key pillar of this National Strategy for the Diaspora is also the close cooperation and joint actions and initiatives that we undertake with Greece. The presence here of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Expatriate Issues, Mr. George Kotsiras, is practical proof of our close and multi-level cooperation and the indissoluble ties that unite Greece and Cyprus.
At the same time, the strengthening of our cooperation with friendly countries on Diaspora issues is of particular importance, with the obvious importance of these partnerships for the realization of common goals and aspirations.
It is therefore with great pleasure that we welcome to Cyprus and warmly thank the Minister of Migration and Expatriates of Egypt, Mrs. Soha Yendi and the Armenian Commissioner for Diaspora Issues, Mr. Zareh Sinanian, for their presence at our conference.
It is of course with special pride and pleasure that we also welcome the Minister of Education of Alberta, Canada, our compatriot Dr. Dimitrios Nicolaides, as well as our newly elected compatriot, Supreme President of AHEPA, Mr. Savvas Chiviko, to whom we wish every success in the work he has undertaken. Finally, we welcome all the guests.
Thank you very much for your cooperation over the years. Thank you for your support and assistance in our joint efforts to raise our diaspora to where it deserves to be. We especially thank the Presidents and members of the Boards of Directors of the World Federation of Expatriate Cypriots (WFDC) Mr. Andreas Papaevripides, the World Coordinating Committee of the Cypriot Struggle (WCCC) Mr. Philip Christopher Christopher, the Youth of the World Federation of Expatriate Cypriots (NEPOMAC) Mr. Christo Tuton and the Presidents and members of all our Federations, Mr. Mr. Christos Karolis, Mr. Andreas Demetriou, Mr. Kyriakos Papastylianou, Mr. Michalis Christodoulou, Mr. Nestoras Nestoras, Mr. George Syllouris, Mr. Evagoris Mavrommatis and Mrs. Christina Amygladitis.
We also owe our sincere thanks to all ministries, especially the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education, and all the state departments involved, for our productive cooperation. Special thanks to the Press and Information Office, the Cyprus Radio and Television Foundation, the University of Cyprus and all the University Institutions of our country.
Thanks also to all the sponsors who helped significantly both in the realization of this conference and in the promotion of our various programmes.
Special thanks to the staff of the Expatriate and Repatriate Service for the hard and excellent work they have done in conducting this important conference.
We are confident of the success of this conference as we are sure that you will continue to fight for our Cyprus with the same zeal and dynamism that you possess.
Our times of intense changes and constant challenges require and impose national unity and solidarity. In this dynamic environment, the collective historical presence of Cypriot Hellenism requires the priority of "we" and not "I". A priority that the Expatriate Cypriot Hellenism set and sets. It is this selfless love, pure patriotism and commitment to the principles that characterize our Diaspora that we must not only preserve but also strengthen even more. Like the dandelion flowers depicted in the invitation to tonight's event, scattered to the wind and taking root, our Diaspora is scattered around the world. And just as the dandelion grows anywhere, so too the Cypriots of the Diaspora, grew, prospered and continue to make us proud by keeping the roots intact, deeply rooted, alive. They forever hold Cyprus in their hearts. After all, you will never find your homeland if you don't always carry some with you. That is why our expatriates are our "top national capital."
The expatriates are and will be here. Present once again. A function of survival and progress. Welcome again to your homeland, the land of memories, the land of your fathers and grandfathers, with the wish and hope that this conference will be the last one held with our Cyprus being the only divided country in Europe. "Nostimon ormar".
(AF)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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