The President of the Republic Mr Nicos
Anastasiades met yesterday afternoon with the President of the Community of
Sant’ Egidio, Professor Marco Impagliazzo, at the Headquarters of the
Community.
The Sant’ Egidio Community is a
powerful Roman Catholic Non-Governmental Organizations in the world, with a
presence in 70 countries and with a rich humanitarian and mediation involvement
on the African continent.
Among the issues discussed in the meeting
were the interfaith dialogue, the bilateral relations between the Republic of
Cyprus and the Sant’ Egidios Community and the protection of the religious and
cultural heritage.
After the meeting, in his remarks to
reporters, the President said that “it was an absolutely interesting meeting
with the President of the Community of Sant’ Egidio, which performs extremely
important work against hunger and against discrimination,” among other issues.
The President added that “there was
interest about Cyprus and there was also a wish expressed for contributing to
the restoration of religious monuments, one Orthodox and one of the Maronite
Church, and I want to express my warm thanks to the Community, representatives
of which will soon be in Cyprus and we will see how we can cooperate further,”
noting that there was cooperation between them in the past as well.
Responding to an observation by a reporter
concerning the position expressed by him earlier at the meeting with the
President of the Community about Cyprus prospectively becoming a place of
interfaith coexistence, President Anastasiades said that this can be done “if
one takes into consideration that in Cyprus religion was never the issue that
divided us from our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, but, unfortunately, the
nationalism of the one or the other side or of both; Mistakes, which certainly
both communities have paid very dearly for. Yes, we can be a model for peaceful
coexistence, especially in a neighborhood that is so turbulent due to religious
differences. I also mentioned to the President of Sant’ Egidio, and I have
mentioned it this morning during my discussions at the Vatican as well, that
they can use Cyprus as a base for the series of programs they are implementing
for the benefit of the people that suffer.”
On his part, the President of the
Community of Sant’ Egidio said that they discussed issues concerning peace
and dialogue, as well as Cyprus’ contribution in the Community’s program in
Africa.
He added that they also discussed issues
concerning peacemaking through religion, noting that “religions today can help”
in this direction. He then mentioned that “the Community is interested in
supporting the restoration of one Orthodox and one Maronite Church in the
occupied areas.”
He went on to say that through the
relationship of the Community of Sant’ Egidio with Cyprus under the Presidency
of President Anastasiades, the island can become a place of coexistence for
religions.
Later in the evening, President
Anastasiades and the members of the Cyprus delegation attended a dinner hosted
by the Community of Sant’Egidio in honor of the President of the Republic.
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