Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus to Ukraine Louis Telemachou arrived to Mariupol State University to participate in the international scientific and practical conference on internationalization of higher education.

Mr. Telemachou visited our university for the first time. By the tradition, the ambassador and other honorary guests of the forum were met with bread and salt. Later, a tour of the university was given during which the diplomat had opportunity to see the scientific-educational and cultural centers established with the support of foreign partners of MSU.

At the end of the plenary session of the conference, the ambassador of Cyprus met with MSU students. He held a lecture “Cyprus and the EU: history and modern challenges. Experience for Ukraine” and discussed with youth perspectives of Ukraine`s eurointegration.

The diplomat noted that in order to be integrated into the European community, first it is necessary to change the system of values, in particular, the attitude towards national minorities, refugees, ecology, representatives of other cultures and confessions.

Consul General of the Hellenic Republic to Mariupol Eleni Georgopoulou, who also attended the lecture, shared the history of the integration of the Hellenic Republic to the EU.

Before the visit of the Ambassador of Cyprus, students and teachers of Mariupol School of Art prepared a cultural program. They sang guest Ukrainian folk songs, they also sang Greek, read a poem about the struggle of the Republic of Cyprus for independence, and organized an exhibition of drawings "Cyprus: Yesterday and Today". To commemorate a visit to Mariupol, the creative youth presented Louis Telemachou a memorable souvenir, a tetrapod, painted by them.