Tripoli, 4 May:
Twenty six children from Libya arrived on Monday, 30 April, in Cyprus, as guests of the . . .[restrict]Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, in a humanitarian gesture towards the Libyan people,and especially to the children seen as the future of the country.
(Photo: Press and Information Office (PIO) of the Republic of Cyprus)
The children, aged 11-15 years, come mainly from the towns of Zawiya, 50 kilometres west of Tripoli, and Misrata, 210 kilometres to its east. The populations of these two cities experienced suffered particularly during last year’s revolution enduring siege, bombardments and other offensive operations by the forces of the former Qaddafi regime.
During their short stay in Cyprus, the children have been received by President Demetris Christofias and met with the Foreign Minister. They have also been visiting important archaeological, historical and cultural sites around Cyprus. Officials and the NGOs “World Women Confederation (Cyprus)” and Volunteer Doctors Cyprus arranged for a series of entertainment programmes for the children.
The visit’s programme was implemented with the financial contribution of the Archbishopric of Cyprus, the Mediterranean Hotel (Limassol), Menelaos Shacolas, Joannou & Paraskevaides, Nicos Shacolas, the Charity Trust Vassilios Lavrentiadis, Iordanis Coaches and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The children return to Libya on Sunday. [/restrict]