Shokry, Greek deputy FM discuss Nostos 3, AU-EU summit

CAIRO - 12 January 2018: Foreign Minister Sameh Shokry received on Saturday Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Terence Quick to discuss possible development of bilateral relations, and exchange views on regional matters of mutual interest.

The talks covered preparations to hold Nostos 3 that will take place in Australia under the patronage of the Egyptian, Greek, and Cypriot heads of states.

Both officials tackled the African Union (AU) - European Union (EU) ministerial meeting that will be held in Brussels on January 21 and 22 as Egypt chairs the AU in 2019.

Nostos 1 and 2 took place in Alexandria and London respectively. The latter included a conference bringing together the physicians of Egyptian, Greek, and Cypriot origins.

The Nostos initiative comes as a part of the diaspora program signed between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, which aims to gather Cypriots and Greeks or their descendants in Alexandria for a return trip to the place where they or their ancestors once lived.

Signing this program is considered by many to be a historic moment for the three countries, since it was the first time that cooperation on diaspora was achieved and also the first time that the three countries decided on a common strategy and joint actions.


The protocol of cooperation between the three countries for the diaspora program was signed in December 2017 at the presidential palace in Nicosia, Cyprus and hosted by Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Overseas Affairs Fotis Fotiou.

The diaspora program and its subsidiary Nostos initiative will be one of the most useful tools in developing diaspora tourism in Egypt and adequately boosting the struggling tourism sector in Egypt.