Brussels, 30 June – 2 July 2025. Participation of the IAO Secretary General to the One-Day Conference of the EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue

The Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), member of the Hellenic Parliament, Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, accompanied by the IAO Advisor, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis, traveled to Brussels to participate in a conference on the topic: “Interreligious Relations in the Context of the Division: The Challenges of Preserving Cultural and Religious Heritage in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus”. The One-Day Conference took place at the headquarters of the European Parliament, and was organized at the initiative of the European People’s Party (EPP) Working Group on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue.

The conference began with a welcome address by the MEP and Co-Chair of the EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue, Mr. Vangelis Meimarakis, and the Cypriot MEP, Mr. Michalis Hatzipandelas.

In his presentation, the IAO Secretary General stressed, “at a time when revisionism is becoming a threatening emerging trend in international relations, force seems to prevail over the rules of international law, and war is becoming a means of imposing the will of regimes and states, there can be no leniency towards those who violate international rules. Because malicious action that goes unpunished finds would-be imitators. In this “war” against the alteration of historical truth and the cultural past of Europe, the EU, as the pre-eminent body for the defense of rights and law, must have a leading role. Especially, since Cyprus is an EU member state, and whatever happens on the island concerns every European, as well as the EU institutions, such as the European Parliament.”

In addition to the IAO head, the following personalities participated in the panels: Metropolitan Vasileios of Constantia of the Church of Cyprus, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium and President of the Liaison Office of the Orthodox Church in the EU, the Superintendent of Museums and Monuments and Head of Archives of the Maronite Archdiocese of Cyprus, Dr. Maria Skordi, Professor of Sociology and former Co-Chair of the EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue, Mr. Jan Olbrycht. The panel was moderated by the MEP from Croatia, Co-Chair of the EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue, Ms. Željana Zovko.

The conference was attended by MEPs from Greece, Cyprus, France, Spain and other countries, as well as officials from the European Commission and the European Parliament in Brussels.