Egypt leads Arab world, whole region: Cypriot amb.

ALEXANDRIA - 30 April 2018: Cypriot Ambassador in Cairo Charis Moritsis said Egypt leads the Arab world and the whole region, stressing his country's keenness on promoting cooperation with Egypt in the various domains.

In a statement on Monday on the occasion of the launch of the "Roots Revival Week" in Alexandria city, the diplomat described as "excellent" Egyptian-Cypriot ties in all fields.

Over the past years, relations between the two countries witnessed unprecedented development under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Moritsis said.

He further stressed the importance of the program of "Roots Revival Week", saying it sends a message of the importance of peace, stability and cooperation for a better future.

"Roots Revival Week" of the Egyptian Greek and Cypriot communities is the first of its kind to honor foreign communities.

Immigration Minister Nabila Makram coordinated with her Greek and Cypriot counterparts to choose Greek and Cypriot participants whose families used to live in Egypt a century back.

The Immigration Ministry prepared a special program for 120 visitors representing the second and third generations of Egyptian Greek communities in different world countries.

The program includes visits to the places in which their families used to live, such as Zizinia and El Raml neighborhoods in Alexandria, followed by a visit to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, a tour of Giza Pyramids, and finally a visit to Saint Catherine's Monastery in Sharm El Sheikh.

In December 2017, Egypt, Cyprus and Greece signed a cooperation protocol that aimed to bring Cypriots and Greeks, who used to live in Alexandria, back to the city, under the auspices of the "Nostos" project.

The project is an initiative of the Egyptian minister of immigration and expatriates affairs, who visited Cyprus along with Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Terence Quick for consultations with Cyprus’ Presidential Commissioner for humanitarian affairs Photis Photiou, as part of the tripartite cooperation of the three countries on diaspora issues.