“Our stance is clear. After the so-called elections in the occupied regions of Cyprus, the discussions for a just, viable and functional resolution of the Cyprus issue, must continue” stated the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spyros Kouvelis, during his speech at the Cypriot Federation of America Convention, held in Queens, New York.
Mr. Kouvelis conveyed a message from the Prime Minister of Greece addressed to the attendants and expressed the gratitude of the Greek government for their struggle, both for their birthplace and Hellenism subsequently. Speaking of the current situation in Greece, he repeated that “despite the difficulties and hardships that our country is currently going through, rest assured that we will make it and better days will follow”.
At the conference of Cypriots abroad, MP of New Democracy, Ioannis Tragakis, addressed a salutation on behalf of the bipartisan delegation of the Greek Parliament, located in the U.S. city for the celebrations of the Diaspora. The delegation is composed of Elpida Tsouri (president of the Special Permanent Committee of Greeks Abroad of the Greek Parliament), Chryssi Arapoglou and Ioannis Diamantides from the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Ioannis Tragakis and Spyros Taliadouros from New Democracy party, Grigoris Psarianos from SYRIZA and Kyriakos Velopoulos representing LAOS
Speeches were made at the convention by the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Nikolas Emiliou, and the ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus in Washington, Vassilis Kaskarelis and Andreas Kakouris respectively, who informed the attendants on issues regarding developments on the Cyprus issue.
The conference, during which the Archibishop of America, Demetrios also made a speech, dealt mainly with issues regarding the national issue, but also the mission of the Cypriot Federation of America. The President of the Cypriot Federation of America, Panikos Papanikolaou, as well as the President of the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), Phillip Christopher, and other members of Cypriot bodies in the US and members of the Federation, presented the work which has been done over the past few years and suggested ways to support the activities for the promotion of national issues.
During the conventions of the Cypriot Federation, veteran members of the Federation, Aris Dimitriou, who will be one hundred years old this coming November, and the treasurer of the Federation, who has been in this position for many years, Nikos Neokleous, for their long contribution to the struggle for Cyprus and the Diaspora.
On Monday Mr. Kouvelis will have a private meeting with the Archbishop of America Demetrios, and in the evening (Greek Time) he will be meeting with the Under-Secretary General of the UN, John Holmes.
On Tuesday he will be visiting the Saint Demetrios Astoria School and later he will make a speech at Columbia University.
On Wednesday he will depart for Chicago.
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