Patriarch Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, based in Lebanon, during a meeting they held at the Presidential Palace.

During their meeting, Patriarch Aram I, who was accompanied by a large delegation of officials from the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, as well as officials from Armenia and Lebanon, awarded the President of the Republic the medal “Prince of Cilicia,” which is awarded as a token of gratitude for his contributions to the Armenian people and for his role in fostering bridges within the region and beyond.

In presenting the medal, Patriarch Aram said, among other things, that “we live in a world marked by many conflicts. Due to its geographical and geopolitical position, Cyprus is particularly exposed to these realities unfolding in the Middle East.”

He noted that in this era of globalization, everything is interconnected, pointing out that conflicts—such as those in Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and more broadly in the Middle East, have repercussions everywhere.

He added that “Cyprus’s role is, and must be, one of building bridges,” and, addressing President Christodoulides, he stated that “you personally play exactly that role, and I know that you have a special relationship with Armenia and Lebanon, which are facing enormous challenges. I look forward to your role as a bridge-builder continuing with renewed efforts and greater intensity.”

Patriarch Aram spoke at length about the long-standing relations between Cyprus and Armenia and between the Churches of the two countries, their shared tradition, shared experiences, and their common struggle for human rights.

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“In Cyprus,” he emphasized, “our community gratefully enjoys the privileges of this country. Therefore, expressing our deep gratitude to you, to the Government, and to the people of Cyprus for all that you provide to our community, I hereby award you the Medal of the Prince of Cilicia as a tangible expression of our love and gratitude toward you and, through you, toward the Government and the people of Cyprus. May God grant you strength in your leadership and in your immense responsibility as President.”

He added that, historically, Cilicia was located where southern Turkey is today, noting that the distance between the coast of Cyprus and the coast of Cilicia is 23 miles.

For his part, the President of the Republic said that he accepts the medal with great pride on behalf of the Government and the people of Cyprus, noting the long tradition of friendship between Cyprus and Armenia, as well as with Lebanon.

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He added that “Lebanon is the most important country in the region for us. I will never forget 2016, when the tragic incident occurred at the port of Beirut; we heard about the explosion in Cyprus and thought there had been an earthquake there—and this is a sign of how close the two countries are.

I am in close contact—I communicate with President Aoun almost every other day—and we fully support his efforts; we recognize his leadership, and our position is clear regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, which faces many challenges.”

He noted that during the recent European Council meeting—which was the last under the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU— Lebanon was among the topics discussed, and that during the meeting, he once again called for strengthening EU-Lebanon relations with regard to launching a dialogue aimed at achieving a comprehensive, strategic agreement between the EU and Lebanon.

He added that the first time the President of the European Commission visited Lebanon was when they traveled there together to express their support for the country.

Referring to Armenia, President Christodoulides said that he first visited the country while serving as Government Spokesperson, on the occasion of the tragic 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“I can proudly say that Cyprus is Armenia’s most ardent supporter in the EU,” emphasized the President of the Republic, adding that “I recently visited the country for the European Political Community Meeting and have been impressed by the progress the country has made.”

Finally, President Christodoulides emphasized that “we are very proud of the Armenian community in Cyprus, which is part of the country’s rich culture, and I always stand by its side.

Every honorary distinction bestowed upon me also comes with a responsibility: to do whatever is necessary to prove in practice that I truly deserve this medal,” the President of the Republic concluded.