US Senator Robert Menendez will be made an honorary citizen of Paphos, when he visits on Friday, the municipality announced on Monday, ahead of his visit set to coincide with the large-scale diaspora event to take place in Cyprus.
Menendez is expected to also visit the American University of Beirut campus under construction in the city.
The municipality said that the honorary residency is for the US Senate foreign relations committee chair’s “long-standing and tireless action for the defence, promotion and establishment of respect for international law, freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law”.
The municipality also noted Menendez’ contribution “in shaping and promoting for the Eastern Mediterranean a vision of peaceful coexistence and cooperation in an environment of security, stability and prosperity, based on international law”.
Menendez is also set to address the diaspora conference to be attended by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister George Kotsiras.
The conference will be held from August 22 to 24 in Nicosia, and Kotsiras is expected to speak at the opening ceremony.
According to a Greek foreign ministry, during his visit, Kotsiras will be received by President Nikos Christodoulides.
He will also hold meetings with House speaker Annita Demetriou, and with the Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos.
In addition, the deputy minister will be received by Archbishop Georgios III.
On the sidelines of the conference, Kotsiras will have a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Soha Samir Nashed Gendi, Minister of Immigration and Expatriates, as well as with his Armenian counterpart, High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan.
During his stay in Cyprus, Kotsiras will lay a wreath at the military cemetery Tymvos Makedonitissa and at the Imprisoned Graves. He will also hold a series of meetings with Greek associations.