Cyprus Archbishop’s visit to the Holy See successful

Cyprus Foreign Minister Yiorgos Lillikas has described as “very successful” a visit by the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II to the Holy See.
“The Archbishop, quite rightly, has raised issues not only of Cypriot interest but also of interest to Christianity and Europe,” he said, commenting on a joint declaration the Pope and Chrysostomos issued on Saturday expressing their will to have a more active role for world peace and inter-religious dialogue.
Lillikas expressed the view that “such approaches can serve Cyprus’ interests because they allow us to have allies in our efforts to protect our cultural heritage and our churches in Turkish-occupied Cyprus.”
This, he pointed out, can also help to promote positions which serve Cyprus’ reunification and co-existence between the island’s two communities.
Lillikas was speaking to the press before his departure for Luxembourg to attend the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council.
The Council meeting will focus on the European Constitutional Treaty and will draft the EU summit conclusions, in addition to discussing EU foreign policy in the Balkans, Sudan, the Middle East, Iran, Libya and Central Asia.