Next phase of ‘Nostos-The Return’ project for Cypriot, Greek and Egyptian diasporas to take place in London

Cyprus, Greece and Egypt decided on Tuesday that the next phase of their “Nostos-The Return” project for their diasporas will take place at the end of October in London.

The decision was taken during a Trilateral Meeting of Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister responsible for the Greek diaspora Terence Quick and Egypt’s Minister of Diaspora Nabila Makram, on diaspora issues that took place at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia.

In statements to the media, Photiou said that they also decided that a group of young people from the three countries will visit in September Greece, Cyprus and Egypt to discuss various issues concerning tourism, culture, education and the universities.

Moreover, according to Photiou they decided that in cooperation with the Ministries of Tourism of the three countries “we will pursue to encourage tour operators to create joint packages for our diasporas, so that they will have the opportunity to visit the three countries.”

In addition, the Presidential Commissioner said they discussed whether it is possible for successful businessmen of the three countries’ diasporas to visit Cyprus, Greece and Egypt, with a view to create the conditions for possible investments by these businessmen.

In his statements Photiou underlined that they confirmed once again the interest of the three countries in further developing their strong ties in all fields, including diaspora issues.

He underlined that Cyprus, Greece and Egypt constitute pillars of stability, security and peace in a very sensitive area, that of the South-Eastern Mediterranean. “We have already made significant steps in certain issues such as the ‘Nostos- The Return’ project two months ago in Alexandria,” he said.

Photiou also stressed that they want to make their cooperation stronger with the participation of young people, noting that young people of the three countries will visit Greece, Cyprus and Egypt in September. “In this way we will manage to bring them closer, to engage them in the effort of joining forces at all levels,” he added.

The Presidential Commissioner thanked the Ministers of Greece and Egypt for their cooperation, noting that this was their fifth meeting. He also said that he invited them to visit Cyprus on July 25-27 when the Overseas Cypriots World Conference will take place, adding that they accepted his invitation. He also noted that the Armenian Minister of Diaspora will also attend the Conference.

Photiou also referred to trilateral cooperation with countries of the region and other countries as well, stressing that the aim is to promote the interests of the countries in powerful foreign decision-making institutions.

On her part, Minister Makram said that the “Nostos-The Return” event that took place in Alexandria, Egypt, was a great success and thanked Photiou and Quick for their cooperation.

She said that political relations among the three countries are absolutely backed by their diasporas everywhere.

She noted that it was a pleasure that they discussed today about the next phase of Nostos, “by getting the youth of each country to be engaged in Nostos. Youth are the future of the three countries. And the future of each country should know the history, the culture and the exceptional relation among the three countries so that they could take the lead afterwards,” she underlined.

“This is why we are very much interested in getting the youth under the umbrella of ‘Nostos’. Ten youth from each country will be visiting the three countries and we will be organizing for them all the tourist, cultural visits,” she said, adding that they could take all the opinions and all the advice of the youth and raise them to the three Presidents.

Makram assured that Nostos will continue, noting that “we have three sincere Ministers working together for the sake of their three countries and under the patronage of the three Presidents.”

On his part, Quick said that they discussed about promoting through the project “’Nostos – The Return of our Treasures” the return of cultural treasures from museums abroad.

He noted that the thirty young people who will visit the three countries will discuss about the return of these treasures during their visit to Greece, about education issues during their visit to Cyprus and about tourism during their visit to Egypt.

Referring to the fact that they chose London for the next “Nostos – The Return” event, Quick said that there is a numerous Cypriot diaspora there, Egypt has a significant community of people working in the medical sector and businessmen, while Greece has a lot of students and businessmen.

Quick also said that the projects they discussed cover the period until the summer of 2019, noting that Greece will go to the polls in September 2019 and so they need to look into the projects for summer next year as well and not only for this year.