NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America welcomed yesterday September 24, 2018 in his office, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, who is attending the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, and his wife, the First Lady of Cyprus Andri Anastasiades.
The two leaders discussed a large spectrum of issues concerning Cyprus and the many challenges surfacing in the international scene.
President Anastasiades was accompanied by his Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, the Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou, the Undersecretary of the Presidency Vassilios Palmas, the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations Ambassador Kornelios Korneliou, the Consul General of Cyprus in New York Alexis Faidonos and Elena Mina of the diplomatic office of the President. The meeting attended the Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod, His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela.
President Anastasiades speaking to the Press after the meeting said: “I had the great pleasure to meet, as I do every year in the last six years, with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, we had more than a cordial discussion, it was a productive discussion about the work of the Archbishop, the support and the influence he exerts though his position for the national issue of Cyprus, and the important philanthropic assistance he offers to Cyprus through the Omogeneia. This support is directed in particular to students who would not otherwise be able to complete their studies. Through his (the Archbishop’s) efforts, the First Lady was able to create an entity, the Independent Body for Social Support to Higher Education Students. Today, we are glad to be able to say that all students who want to pursue their studies can get their degrees. I express the gratitude of the people of Cyprus for his support to our national issue, the unity he inspires within the community and specifically for his offering to the students of our country.”
Archbishop Demetrios expressed his joy for a very warm, sincere and cordial meeting and said that “the pending national issue of Cyprus is constantly in our minds and hearts and it is the focus of our unceasing concern and efforts, as we believe that God will help to have an appropriate resolution.” The Archbishop also said that the philanthropic body for the support of students in need, created by the First Lady of Cyprus Andri Anastasiades, is a model organization, with full accountability, serving solely the goal for which it was created. It is an achievement worth being proud of, he said.
“For us, the struggle for Cyprus is an open issue that will come to a close only when a just resolution is reached and before that happens, said the Archbishop, we cannot let our heads rest and will not let our eyelids close from drowsiness.”
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