2011-03-04 16:54:14

President of Cyprus reflects on last year's visit by Pope Benedict XVI


“The fruit is the development of values, of love, of dignity, of mutual respect, and of course of peace – in Cyprus, and in the region, and in the world as well.”

This is the appraisal of the President of Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias, when asked about Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic voyage to Cyprus on June 4-6, 2010.

The President had just addressed a group of Catholic Church leaders from South-Eastern Europe who are meeting in Nicosia.

The conference is under the auspices of the CCEE, the Council of European Bishops Conferences, and is looking at the pastoral care of young people.

President Christofias spoke to them about the political situation on the island, and the efforts to unify Cyprus after decades of division.

“We speak about one state, with one indivisible sovereignty, international personality, and citizenship,” he said. “Otherwise we are speaking about two states. This is the difference in the vision of Turkey and ourselves…if you analyse the demands of the Turkish Cyriot leader, you are going to come a conclusion that, in fact, they want confederation instead of federation.”

Listen to Philippa Hitchen's full interview with President Christofias: RealAudioMP3







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