In a statement, Archbishop Elpidoforos expresses his regret for the suffering he inadvertently caused to his Cypriot and Greek-American brothers, as it typically states. He also emphasizes that his presence at this particular event does not constitute recognition of the occupied.
His statement in detail:
"As a Greek from Istanbul, I and my family have experienced the terrible consequences of being uprooted from our ancestral homes, like many of my compatriots, but also of the Imbrians and the Tenedians, due to another escalation of the Cyprus issue in the decade 70. I have grown up with this pain, that is why I understand the pain of our Cypriot brothers, as well as their feelings and reactions. I see them as expressions of pain from people who have lost everything: properties, homelands, dreams, family, relatives.
Want, Well, to declare to all that my presence at Monday's event, it could never be an acknowledgment of a calamity, of a refugee, of a possession. My presence has always had the same fixed orientation: the honest and courageous dialogue, for a future with peace and protection of religious freedom. We are all united in defending our national interests, each in his own way and with his own role. But united, committed to the same goal.
I am truly sorry for the pain I have inadvertently caused my Cypriot and Greek American brothers, especially in my beloved flock. I pray that a just and sustainable solution will be found in martyred Cyprus, as the Cypriot people expect, based on international law and the protection of human rights, according to UN resolutions, and I am working towards this end.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America stands for a century next to the ubiquitous Hellenism, defending his expectations. Our unity is my ministry and duty".