The Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus spoke about what he described as a “difficult moment” for the Greek nation while commenting on the current situation in the Middle East and recent attacks near the British military bases at Akrotiri.
In an interview with the Greek television channel OPEN, the Archbishop noted that there is concern within government circles but emphasized that, for the moment, Cyprus remains distant from the active war zones. “There is an uneasy calm right now,” he said.
Referring to the regional tensions, Archbishop Georgios highlighted the support provided by Greece, mentioning the arrival of two Greek frigates and four F-16 fighter jets. He said this development had been expected for some time and expressed hope that such cooperation would continue. According to him, Cyprus wishes to see the continuation of the Unified Defense Doctrine that had once been implemented between Greece and Cyprus.
“We feel that we are far from the war conflicts,” he explained, while adding that Cyprus cannot face the dangers in the region alone. “By ourselves it is difficult to confront the danger that for us is Turkey. We need the support of Greece and of Hellenism everywhere.”
The Archbishop also expressed gratitude toward the government, the Church, and the people of Greece for their support.
He noted that while other countries may have obligations toward Cyprus through the European Union, the relationship with Greece is different. “Our ties with Greece are different, and we see the help of the Greek government and people differently,” he said. “From others we may ask for help, but from Greece it is as if it is protecting a part of itself. We are not strangers.”
Archbishop Georgios concluded by saying that the strong sense of gratitude felt by the people of Cyprus demonstrates the deep bonds that unite the two nations, suggesting that the famous statement made decades ago that “Cyprus lies far away” no longer reflects the reality of the relationship between the two countries.
Source: alphanews.live
