Cypriot Studies Seat at NYU inaugurated

Small states such as Cyprus can seek justice and protection against the use of force only through the pre-eminence of international law, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has stressed, adding that government efforts to end the Turkish military occupation are driven by the need to restore justice.
The President made the remarks as he addressed an audience of distinguished academics at the New York University on the inauguration of the Cyprus Global Distinguished Professorship on History and Theory of Justice.
Professor of Classics, Dean of the College of Arts and Science at New York University Matthew Santirocco said he was pleased that this academic establishment had strengthened its links with Cyprus, noting that the case of Cyprus had often raised questions of justice in the academia.
He also said that the University established a professorship in Cypriot studies, having in mind the ancient philosopher of Cyprus Zenon of Citium, founder of the Stoic School of thought of the Hellenistic period, whose teachings have survived remarkably well into modern thought.
President Papadopoulos welcomed warmly Dr Richard Sorabji, who is assuming this professorship, noting his voluminous and significant contribution which links Aristotelian philosophy with modern thought.
The President also referred to Dr Phillip Mitsis, whom he credited for the birth of the idea for the establishment of this professorship and to Dr John Brademas, who contributed to forging strong links between the NYU and Cyprus.
Papadopoulos said that Cyprus is cultivating links with US universities in various fields, such as public health, energy, the environment and education, in a bid to help meet European Union guidelines to spend by 2010 3 per cent of its Gross National Product to research and innovation.
“The establishment of the Cyprus Global Distinguished Professorship on History and Theory of Justice is an important development for Cyprus, as well as one having strong symbolic connotations. It reflects both our heritage and our contemporary quest,” the President stressed.
In his address, he talked about the illegal Turkish occupation of Cyprus’ northern part and stressed that “efforts to end this military occupation are driven by the need to restore justice in conformity with the principles of international law and safeguarding the human rights and prosperity of all Cypriots.”