The program will feature a recital by the world-renowned French-Cypriot pianist and composer Cyprien Katsaris, with the participation of the Archdiocesan Youth Choir and the Greek-Cypriot baritone Constantinos Yiannoudes and tenor Yiorgios Ioannou.

The event will be attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus and Mrs. Demetris Christofias, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, high-level European Union officials, many foreign ambassadors at the United Nations, and other dignitaries. It will take place on Wednesday, September 26, 2012, at the Alice Tully Hall, Starr Theater of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 1941 Broadway, (on 65th street) New York City.

Cyprus is the third most populous island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of its most popular tourist destinations. An advanced, high-income economy with a very high Human Development Index, the Republic of Cyprus was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement until it joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. On January 1 2008, the Republic of Cyprus joined the Eurozone and starting in June this year, she holds the European Union six months rotating presidency.

In 1974 Turkey invaded the northern portion of the island and Turkish forces remained after a cease-fire, resulting in the de facto partition of the country, an objective of Ankara since 1955. The Turkish invasion led to the displacement of over 150,000 Greek Cypriots and 50,000 Turkish Cypriots, and the establishment of an illegal separate Turkish Cypriot political entity in the north controlled and recognized only by Turkey. Repeated efforts by the UN to solve the issue have failed due to Ankara’s intransigence and unwillingness to negotiate in good faith.

For further information regarding the “Cyprus: Musical Filoxenia” event, please contact the Cyprus Federation of America at 201-444-8237,718-946-2700, or cyprusfederation@aol.com or Globe Entertainment Productions at 718-721-1969.