By Kyriakos Apostolou
There is an invisible thread that connects Cyprus with the four corners of the world. It is the thread of memory, of identity and of love for the place, kept alive by the thousands of Cypriots of the diaspora. People who left in order to prosper, but carried with them the history and culture of the homeland.
From Australia to the United States and from Europe to Africa, the Cypriot voice is always strong, supporting the struggles of the land, keeping memory alive and cultivating the vision of reunification and freedom.
This voice was united again in Nicosia, where from 26 to 29 August the World Conference of Cyprus Diaspora took place, gathering around 200 delegates from every corner of the earth.
The official opening took place at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, in the presence of the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, with the work continuing at the University of Cyprus. The ceremony opened with a musical programme by Vasilis Philippou, Odysseas Toumazou and Christos Isidorou, creating an atmosphere of emotion and nostalgia.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, welcomed the delegates with reference to the responsibility of all towards the Republic of Cyprus. “Fifty-one years have passed since the disaster of the occupation. When the experience is daily it cannot be memory. We have a responsibility to protect the Republic of Cyprus,” he stressed.
He referred to the diaspora as a valuable partner in the struggle for liberation and reunification, while presenting the new initiatives of the Ministry, such as the platform “E-Proxenos,” the new website of the Service for Expatriates and the planned mobile application in cooperation with Greece. He gave special emphasis to the youth, noting that space must be given to their own approaches at all levels.
Emotion was caused by the speech of the President of POMAK, Andreas Papaevripidis, who spoke of the unbreakable bond of the diaspora with the homeland. “Thousands of kilometres may separate us, we are united by the same deep root, the same desires and the same heart. Our Cyprus lives within us and does not leave our mind for even a moment… We did not compromise with the faits accomplis of the barbaric Turkish invasion. No one forgets, nothing is forgotten.”
He sent a clear message that the scenario of two states is not acceptable, underlining that the Republic of Cyprus is the only state. In the same speech he announced his departure from the presidency of POMAK, passing the baton to a younger fellow struggler, but assured that he would remain present “until the stain leaves the slopes of Pentadaktylos,” having already decided on his next “step.”
Greetings followed from the President of PSEKA, Philip Christopher, the President of NEPOMAK, Christos Touton, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Ioannis Loverdos, the President of the Parliament Annita Demetriou and His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus, Mr. Georgios. All stood on the significance of the diaspora as a living part of the country, confirming that the bonds with Cyprus remain unshaken.
The highlight of the evening came with the speech of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, who declared the official opening of the work.
“We are undoubtedly living in a critical period at an international level, in a difficult and constantly changing environment. In this unstable framework we move on the basis of a specific strategy and plan, choosing the road of consistency, of dialogue, of active and extroverted diplomacy,” he said.
The President made special reference to reforms at home, to the strengthening of the rule of law and of social policy, as well as to the fiscal discipline which shields the economy. “With our responsible policy we achieved the reactivation of the international factor and the start of processes that we hope will lead to the resumption of substantial negotiations,” he stressed, sending a message of optimism.
Another moving moment was the awarding of medals to eight personalities for their long-standing contribution to the community and Cypriot Hellenism. Among them, special mention is deserved by the awarding of the late Christina Charalambous from South Australia, who served with selflessness the Cypriot Community of Adelaide. The medal was received on behalf of the family by Dr Andreas Evdokiou, conveying a message from her sister, Eleni Charalambous.
As was stressed, from a young age she dedicated herself to public life, shaping with her quiet but decisive action a community progressive and steady. She was, as it was said, “a person of action and not of words,” with her work being recognised as a foundation for the next generations.
Together with Ms Charalambous, honoured also were: Andreas Kyprianides (Los Angeles), Nikos Tziasas (USA), George Giakoumis (Birmingham), Kyriakos Akathiotis (Birmingham), Athina Charalambidou (Canada), Nestor Nestoros (Zimbabwe) and Andreas Savvas Demetriou (South Africa). These awards were presented by Mr Christodoulides.
The work continued at the University of Cyprus with interventions by delegates and officials, while this year the Conference also had an electoral character, with the emergence of new leaderships in POMAK and PSEKA. Special moments were the reception of the President of the Republic, where personalities of the diaspora were honoured, the visit to Athienou in honour of benefactor Nikos Mouyiaris and the memorial event at Skali Aglantzia for the 51 years since the invasion.
The Conference concluded on 29 August with a press conference, where the findings and conclusions were presented. At the centre was the need for the diaspora to remain an active ambassador of the national rights, to strengthen the bonds with the new generation and to make use of networking possibilities at international level.
Four days full of emotion, messages and determination showed that the voice of the diaspora is not peripheral but central. In Nicosia it was clearly seen that the Cypriot expatriate community remains a living guardian of memory and of perspective, with substantial word and legacy for the future.
