Today and tomorrow in Geneva, another attempt will be made to break the deadlock in which the Cyprus problem has been mired since the summer of 2017, with the breakdown of the negotiations in Crans-Montana.

This effort is not aimed at negotiating a solution but at negotiating…for the negotiations!

The Turkish side has been refusing for 8 years to take part in a process for a solution to the problem, unless its demand for a change in the UN framework for the form of the Cyprus settlement is first accepted. It demands sovereign equality for the Turkish Cypriots and abandonment of the basis for seeking a solution of a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality as provided for by UN resolutions.

The meeting in Geneva will be attended by the UN Secretary General and the delegations of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides together with the guarantor powers (Greece – Turkey – Britain). The EU will also be represented as an observer.

The Cypriot delegation arrived in Geneva last night. President Christodoulides is accompanied by members of the National Council, namely the former President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, the leaders of the parliamentary parties DISY, AKEL, DIKO, EDEK and DIPA and the Vice President of the Ecologists’ Movement.

Later this morning, a meeting of the National Council will be held under President Christodoulides to discuss tactical issues and for the leaders of the parties to express their views.

The work of the conference will begin at 8 pm, with a dinner hosted by the UN Secretary General to welcome the heads of delegations.

After the dinner, which is expected to conclude at 10 pm, President Christodoulides will again brief the National Council.

Tomorrow, the UN Secretary General will hold bilateral meetings with each side in the morning, followed by an all-party meeting at the Palais des Nations, the UN headquarters from 12 to 3 pm.

The United Nations is represented at the informal meeting by the UN Secretary-General, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, Rosemary Di Carlo, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus, Colin Stewart.

On the Greek Cypriot side, led by President Christodoulides, the delegation includes, among others, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, the Director of the President’s Diplomatic Office, Doros Venezis, Negotiator Menelaos Menelaou, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letibiotis, National Security Advisor Tasos Tzionis, and a legal team led by Cyprus’ Attorney General George Savvidis.

The Turkish Cypriot delegation is headed by Ersin Tatar, accompanied by Special Representative Gounes Onar, Legal Affairs Advisor, Sioulen Karabatziak, Coordinator of the “Bilateral Technical Committees”, Seniha Birad Chinar, and Hussein Isiksal, Special Advisor for International Relations and Diplomacy. Also in Geneva is the so-called “foreign minister” of the pseudo-state, Tahsin Ertugruloglu.

The delegation is accompanied by representatives of Turkish Cypriot parties, including the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (RTK), Toufan Erhiurman, and the chairman of the People’s Party, Kudret Ozersai.

The Greek delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, while Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou will also participate.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will lead the Turkish delegation.

The UK delegation will be led by the UK Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Dowty, who was in Cyprus in early March for contacts with the two leaders. The delegation will also include the British High Commissioner to Cyprus, Michael Tatham.

The European Union has also confirmed that it will be represented, but it has not been announced with whom or at what level.

Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides has said that the Greek Cypriot side is ready for all scenarios and that it is going to Geneva with one specific goal, the resumption of negotiations from where they left off in Crans-Montana in 2017.

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said after a meeting in Ankara with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz ahead of the informal five-party talks that he will express to his interlocutors in Geneva that an agreement can be reached in Cyprus with the cooperation of the “two states” on the basis of sovereign equality and equal international status.

Greek authorities arrested 23 people suspected of involvement in three artifact smuggling rings operating in Northern Greece, police said.

Moody’s has upgraded Greece’s credit rating to investment grade, marking the end of the country’s financial crisis era.

A historic partnership is coming to light the path of Greek cultural heritage on the other side of the Atlantic.

The Foundation of the Hellenic World (FHW) and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America are joining forces in an initiative that aspires to convey the essence of Hellenism and the Orthodox Christian tradition to the present day.Thus, they proceeded to conclude a historic Cooperation Agreement, which aims to highlight and preserve Greek culture and the Orthodox faith in the United States and beyond.

This specific partnership constitutes an essential bridge between Greece and the Greek-American community, an initiative that not only recognizes the value of our cultural and religious heritage, but also actively invests in its dissemination and strengthening. Through this collaboration, the IME, known for its use of innovative digital technologies in highlighting history, and the Archdiocese, a steadfast guardian of Orthodoxy in the American space, join forces to bring the Greek spirit closer to younger generations.

A collaboration with vision and perspective
It is a collaboration with vision and perspective, which includes a series of actions that aim not only to preserve cultural identity, but also to disseminate it to the global audience through modern technologies and multidimensional initiatives.

Among the key actions of the collaboration are:

• The creation of a pioneering digital repository, where valuable archival material, historical documents, photographs, testimonies and educational content will be collected, with the aim of free access and educational utilization by anyone interested
• The organization of exhibitions and cultural events, which will travel through physical and virtual spaces, connecting the public with the rich heritage of Hellenism and Orthodoxy.
• The development of educational programs for students and researchers, which will focus on teaching Greek history, language, art and religious tradition through interactive methods and modern media.
• The strengthening of the Greek-American community, offering the diaspora the opportunity to maintain and strengthen their relationship with their homeland, strengthening their cultural identity through events, conferences and joint actions.
• The creation of innovative digital museums, where visitors will be able to browse virtual representations of historical periods, discover important figures and events and experience Greek history in a completely new and interactive way.

The importance of this collaboration was clearly reflected in the meeting between His Eminence Archbishop of America Elpidophoros and Ms. Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou, Executive Vice President of the IME, where their shared commitment to work with dedication for the implementation of the goals of the Agreement was confirmed. More specifically, Ms. Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou pointed out that “this collaboration comes to illuminate the path of Greek cultural heritage on the other side of the Atlantic. It is not a simple cultural or educational initiative. It is an ambitious plan that embraces the past, present and future of Hellenism. It is an investment in knowledge, tradition and memory, a promise to future generations that their heritage will remain alive, vibrant and accessible.”

A path open for new generations
The Foundation of the Hellenic World and the Archdiocese of America are opening a new chapter in the cultural and religious connection between Greece and the United States, creating a legacy that will never fade. With the power of technology, education and faith, Hellenism continues its timeless journey, illuminating the future with its values ​​and ideals.