Press Releases

Your Eminence,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Presidential Palace for this special and important event. The association, cooperation, relations – as they were mentioned earlier – of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), not only in Cyprus but also internationally, have a long history. Besides, the organisation is celebrating its 101^st year, and I sincerely feel honoured and delighted to welcome you here today.

In this context, allow me, before I make any other reference, to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the excellent cooperation all these years, and to congratulate you for the multidimensional and remarkable work you do. Work which I know personally from my time as a university student in the USA. And, of couse, on behalf of the Cypriot State and the Cypriot people, I would like to thank you.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Over time, AHEPA has demonstrated substantial, remarkable work, and strong, practical and prominent participation in all the struggles of Cyprus and Hellenism in general, abroad and especially in the USA.

As I mentioned before, I am aware, from personal experience, of AHEPA’s contribution in our effors for the enlightenment of our national issue and the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem. I am well aware of the struggles of the issue of our missing persons, the promotion of the geostrategic and geopolitical role of the Republic of Cyprus in an area of special importance, particulary for the USA, in the Eastern Mediterranean region and the wider Middle East, in addressing the various challenges that we are called upon to manage from time to time, as well as strengthening our relations with the U.S., which thanks to your efforts, I would say, are at the highest level that they have ever been. At the same time, AHEPA’s support is crucial in our effort to define and implement a National Stategy for our Diaspora, contributing even more to the promotion of our common goals, our common interests in the most important foreign decision-making centres. I would like to mention the role which has been developing in the last few years, beyond the U.S., into the European area, an area where we as a country do not have strong communities, except in the UK. In countries such as Germany, Belgium and other European countries, AHEPA’s action is of particular importance to us.

An important milestone for AHEPA’s work and action is the organisation of its annual Supreme Convention. This year we will have the pleasure and honour to host this convention in Cyprus, in Larnaka. More than three thousand delegates are expected to participate, and the Republic of Cyprus, as we have already agreed, will contribute to the successful organisation of this convention. On this occasion, I would like to thank the Supreme President, Mr Savas Tsivicos, for his decisive contribution to this event and ask from his representative here tonight, Mr Nikos Pafitis, to convey our thanks.

The decision to organise the 2024 convention in Cyprus has a strong symbolic character. It is the third convention not held in the USA as well as it will, unfortunately, coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Therefore, it is an opportunity not only to condemn the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation – hopefully, by then there will be such developments that instead of condemning, we will be celebrating the reunification of our country - but it will also be an opportunity to reiterate our conviction of the need to end the occupation and solve the Cypriot problem, on the basis of the agreed framework and the EU principles and values.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As it was previously mentioned, today’s event is dedicated to the memory of Photos Photiades, and all net proceeds will be donated to the “Elpida” Foundation for children with cancer and leukaemia, and to the “Iliahtida” Foundation for children with special needs. Obviously, this is another action that is part of the rich and multilevel contribution of AHEPA and all of you who are here tonight and support this great effort to alleviate the pain, problems and difficulties our fellow human beings, especially children, face daily.

That is why I can only congratulate AHEPA Cyprus for this initiative and for its action in this field, and assure you that me personally, as well as the state, will always be by your side, supporting such actions substantially and practically.

Friends, 

In closing, I would like to make a special reference to the late Photos Photiades, whom we honour today. I consider AHEPA’s decision to organise tonight’s event in memory of a fellow citizen who, through his overall action, sent important messages. A man whose course left an indelible mark on Cypriot business and beyond. A man who was among the pioneers in the business and economic development of our country, especially the difficult years after the Turkish invasion. A man who contributed decisively to the growth and development of the Cypriot economy.

I would like, though, to focus a little bit on Photos Photiades beyond the businessman; on Photos Photiades as an advocate of culture. His contribution in the field of literature and arts is well known, and I will never forget his interest which was often denatured into articles in the Cypriot press on current affairs and more. At the same time, and in the context of his multilevel action, it is worth mentioning the organisation of the Carlsberg Festival. We may now consider it an ordinary event, but when it first started, it was something pioneering for our country. Moreover, the establishment of the “Photos Photiades” Foundation and the Cyprus Museum of National History were some of his emblematic actions in Cypriot society.

I would be remiss if I did not mention his efforts to promote the rights of the Cypriot people, his efforts to enlighten and promote our national problem since - I do not know how many of you are aware of this - he was a member of the first committee for informing the world about the consequences of the Turkish invasion and the aftermath of the occupation of our country after 1974.   

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I welcome you to today’s event. I warmly thank all of you, AHEPA Cyprus, and especially the District Governor, my friend, Georgios Kallenos, for the excellent work you do in Cyprus, for the initiative and organisation of tonight’s excellent charity event in memory of one of our compatriots, Photos Photiades, of whom were particularly proud.

Thank you very much.

(GS/KK)