Young people from Greece, Cyprus, Israel will visit the three countries next summer in a joint tour, while heads of the three countries on diaspora issues will meet at the end of February in Israel, as it was decided Wednesday in a trilateral meeting held in Nicosia.

Cypriot Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues and Overseas Cypriots Photis Photiou, Greek Deputy Minister for Diaspora Issues Terence Quick  and Chairman of the “Jewish Agency for Israel” Isaac Herzog, referred after their meeting to a new strategy and deepening of their co-operation on diaspora issues.

In his statements at the Presidential Palace, Photiou, said  that diasporas could serve the interests of the three countries and bring closer the new generations living abroad.

“Diaspora is one of the most powerful tools to promote interests in strong decision-making centers abroad,” he added, pointing out that Cyprus, Greece and Israel remain powerful pillars of security, peace and prosperity in the region.

Referring to their next meeting to be held at the end of February in Israel, he said that it would be an effort to co-decide how diaspora could help the three countries, taking into account the latest developments in the region, especially those concerning the issues of energy and security.

He also said that close and productive cooperation between the three diasporas in the US Congress was a success story and they would like to expand it in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

Greek Deputy Minister said that there was a new dynamic on trilateral cooperation issues, referring in particular to the forthcoming trilateral meeting in Israel on December 20, between the leaders of the three countries, where the issues of diaspora will also be discussed.

He added that it was also decided the expansion of cooperation between the three diasporas in Canada, that will start next June.

Quick also said that they would like to use young people of the three countries studying abroad, to deal with the issue of fake news and the “dark side of the internet”.

Isaac Herzog said he was proud of the co-operation that started two years ago, pointing out that the “Jewish Agency for Israel” is the world`s largest organization linking the Israelis abroad with Israel.

He pointed out that the trilateral partnership has great historical roots and could be an example of partnerships between Jewish and Christians in the region.

“I think the message we convey is a message for regional peace. After all, all great religious are emanating from this region and I sincerely hope that our neighbours will understand that we send a message of coexistence and well being and we are stretching our hands to our neighbours for peace”, he said.

He added that next week’s summit between the leaders of the three countries, Netanyahu, Anastasiades and Tsipras would be another great cornerstone in developing the relationship between states, peoples and diasporas.

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