“The importance of such an institution for maintaining international relations as people’s diplomacy has recently begun to increase.” This opinion was expressed to the TASS correspondent by Mikis Filaniotis, Chairman of the Cyprus-Russia Friendship Society and leader of the Loyal Friends of Russia in Cyprus movement.

“In those periods when political contacts between countries weaken for one reason or another, and sometimes not for bilateral reasons, but for external ones, the so-called people’s diplomacy comes into play. It should be noted that the latter does not function separately from official diplomacy – in normal times they successfully coexist with each other and even go hand in hand, but in difficult periods it is people’s diplomacy that takes the initiative to ensure the continuity of the process of preserving and even further strengthening bilateral ties,” Filaniotis said.

According to him, people from a wide variety of fields of activity are involved in the process of public diplomacy, but they are united by “sincere love for the two countries whose relations they are helping to strengthen.” “We are talking about indigenous Cypriots, especially those who studied at Soviet and Russian universities, and those Russians who moved to Cyprus at one time and have been living on the island for a long time. But at the same time, both countries are infinitely dear to both of them – these are people who feel in many ways even their dual identity, both cultural and linguistic, and for them there are two homelands, Cyprus and Russia,” the agency’s interlocutor noted.

He stressed that Cypriots returning to Cyprus after studying in the Russian Federation are looking for opportunities to participate in public diplomacy with the help of the Cyprus-Russia Friendship and Cultural Relations Society, the Association of Graduates of Soviet and Russian universities and the Loyal Friends of Russia in Cyprus movement.

What do the leaders of public diplomacy do?

Speaking about the activities of these public organizations, Filaniotis noted that they are involved in the preparation of a wide variety of events, including events dedicated to national holidays such as Great Victory Day, as well as various exhibitions, festivals, film screenings and other events in the cultural and social life of Cyprus. “But in general, this is an activity that is primarily aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation between the peoples of Cyprus and Russia,” he added.

Filaniotis himself made a major contribution to the translation from Russian into Greek of the five-volume book The Great Victory, dedicated to the events of the Great Patriotic War. And he plans to translate into Greek Natalia Zykova’s historical novel titled “Service to Cyprus and Russia,” which is dedicated to the origins of our country’s diplomatic presence on the island.

Contacts with the authorities and the Embassy

According to Filaniotis, the public organizations he heads have no problems with carrying out the planned events. “Both the municipal authorities of Cyprus and the island’s police are meeting our wishes and providing adequate protection to participants in the actions and events we organize,” said the head of the friendship society.

He added that the leaders of public diplomacy in Cyprus carry out their work in contact not only with the Cypriot side, but also with the Russian side. “We cooperate with the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Nicosia, and, of course, with the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation. I am pleased to note that the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nicosia, Murat Zyazikov, is a great friend of Cyprus, who treats our island with great attention and sincere love and who is always ready to respond to any requests from our side,” Filaniotis stressed.

The significance of Gagarin’s visit to Cyprus

The TASS source cited the laying of wreaths at the bust of Yuri Gagarin in the Nicosia Municipal Garden as an example of efforts to preserve the memory of milestones in the history of bilateral relations.

Filaniotis noted that Cypriots cherish Gagarin’s memory by laying wreaths at the foot of his bust three times a year – on the day of man’s first flight into space, on the day of his death and on the day of his first visit to the island.

He stressed that Cyprus had never met a single head of state with such honors as Gagarin. According to Filaniotis, Gagarin’s visit was the most significant event for the state formed two years earlier after the island declared its independence.