Christodoulides meets US students of Cypriot and Greek descent during AHI programme

Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides met students of Cypriot and Greek descent from the United States on Monday to discuss the Cyprus problem, Cyprus-US relations and the island’s strategic role in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The students are visiting Cyprus as part of the American Hellenic Institute’s annual foreign policy programme, which is being held for the 18th year.

Programme visit to Cyprus

During the visit to the presidential palace, American Hellenic Institute president Nick Larigakis presented Christodoulides with a commemorative plaque marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.

Larigakis said the aim of the programme is to educate the next generation of Greek-American and Cypriot-American leaders and raise their awareness about issues concerning the Eastern Mediterranean.

Students’ reflections

Maria Kyriacou, a student at the University of Virginia from Chicago, described the meeting as a meaningful experience.

She said she thought about her grandparents, who are from Cyprus, and what it means for her as an American of Cypriot descent to be in Cyprus, adding that the discussion covered geopolitical issues affecting both Cyprus and the United States.

Yale University student Lucas Koutsoukos, from Connecticut, said the meeting gave participants a better understanding of Cyprus’ history and its current geopolitical importance.

He described the meeting as an exciting experience and said the group discussed the Cyprus issue, dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot community, regional cooperation and ways the diaspora could support Cyprus and Greece.

Further activities

The students have also visited Larnaca and the island’s north as part of the programme and are scheduled to visit the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas and Port Security, known as Cyclops.