Archbishop George of Cyprus: The Struggle for Cyprus Is a Matter of National Survival

At the World Congress of Cypriots of the Diaspora currently being held in Nicosia, Archbishop George of Cyprus delivered a keynote address, emphasizing that current efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue should be directed not toward territorial concessions, but toward ensuring the very survival of the Greek Cypriot people. According to the Orthodoxia News Agency ( ), the event is taking place against the backdrop of the 50th anniversary of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) and is accompanied by a gathering of the youth organization NEPOMAK.

In his address to his compatriots, the Archbishop sharply criticized international approaches to resolving the Cyprus issue. In his view, the current diplomatic framework—proposed, among others, by the UN—ignores the fact of the illegal Turkish occupation and reduces the issue to intercommunal disputes. He stated: “Our current path is a struggle for national and physical survival, not for a few meters of land.”

The Primate of the Church of Cyprus emphasized that Turkey is not seeking a fair compromise but is pursuing long-term goals of establishing control over the entire island. The Archbishop called on the Cypriot government, political forces, and the diaspora to rethink their strategy: it is necessary to ensure compliance with European legislation and to consolidate the entire Hellenic world. He warned against a policy of “appeasement of the aggressor,” noting that constant concessions only hasten the ultimate loss of national rights.

The Congress, which concludes on July 31, remains a vital platform for strengthening ties between Cyprus and overseas communities, helping to preserve the language, traditions, and national memory in the context of globalization.