MoU to bring Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon diasporas closer together

Presidential Commissioner Fotis Fotiou will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the end of his current visit to Beirut, in the framework of the first Cyprus-Greece-Lebanon trilateral meeting on Diaspora Affairs.

Fotiou on Tuesday met Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Katsaniotis.

“This is a historic moment for the three countries, as it will further strengthen the already very good relations among them,” a statement released by Fotiou’s office on Tuesday said.

“The MoU aims to bring the Diaspora of the three countries closer together. Groups from all three countries will be able to organise joint events and exchange know-how and best practices on diaspora topics through their cooperation on issues of common interests,” his office said.

The statement added that particular importance was given, both during the meeting and within the MoU, to the younger generation of expatriates, “as they are the future of the diaspora and its future leaders.”

During his visit, Fotiou met Bishop Elias Audi, Metropolitan bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church for the Archdiocese of Beirut, with whom he discussed issues faced by Orthodox Churches in Lebanon.

The Presidential Commissioner conveyed to the bishop the support of the Cypriot government and thanked him for his work and service to the community.

Fotiou also met His Beatitude Aram I, the head of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, with whom he discussed the close relations between Cyprus and the Armenian community in Lebanon, as well as further areas of cooperation through future cultural and other events.