On the margins of the Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). OSCE), on the theme "Fighting Corruption, Defending Democracy: The Role of National Parliaments", the Speaker of the Parliament Ms. Anita Demetriou had separate meetings with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE CSO) Ms. Margareta Cederfelt, the Executive Director of GRECO Ms. Hanne Juncher and the Director of Practical Governance Europe and Central Africa at the World Bank Mr. Roby Senderowitsch.
Welcoming the President of the C.C. Ms Demetriou expressed her satisfaction with the excellent cooperation that has developed between the Cyprus Parliament and the C.C. OSCE and for the substantial participation of Cypriot parliamentarians in the activities of the Assembly, indicative of which, as she pointed out, was the initiative of Mrs Irene Charalambidou for the organisation of this very important Congress. Ms Demetriou also informed Ms Cederfelt about the new Turkish provocations in the enclosed area of Famagusta, stressing that such unacceptable actions are contrary to the relevant UN Resolutions and undermine efforts to resume talks to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunite Cyprus in peace and security.
Ms Cederfelt praised the active role of the Cypriot delegation to the OSCE CSC and the distinction of its members in positions of Assembly officials. Regarding the Cyprus problem, Ms Cederfelt expressed the hope that peace and security conditions would soon prevail in Cyprus.
In her meeting with the Executive Director of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) Ms Hanne Juncher, Ms Demetriou expressed her thanks for GRECO's constructive, guiding role in monitoring the compliance of its member states in the area of anti-corruption and enhancing transparency. Ms Demetriou referred to the latest improvements in the Cypriot legislative framework, such as the adoption by the House of Representatives of a Code of Conduct for members of the House of Representatives and the adoption of legislation on the protection of whistleblowers, transparency in the decision-making process and the establishment of the Independent Authority against Corruption. Ms Demetriou also noted that the bills related to the reform of the justice sector are currently under discussion before the House of Representatives.
Ms Juncher congratulated Ms Demetriou on the efforts of the House of Representatives in the field of the fight against corruption. She noted that Cyprus has made significant progress and is on the right track. Finally, she underlined the important role of the National Parliaments in adopting, and especially in supervising the implementation of the legislative framework.
In her meeting with Mr Senderowitsch, the President of the Parliament noted that cooperation between international organisations and national parliaments in the fight against corruption is of paramount importance. In this context, he underlined the interest of the House of Representatives in strengthening cooperation with the World Bank in the field of information and utilisation of the organisation's expertise.
Mr. Senderowitsch attached particular importance to the exercise of effective control by national parliaments in the fight against corruption, both in the context of approving the state budget and more generally in terms of supervising the implementation of existing legislation.
Finally, there was an exchange of views on possible ways of developing cooperation between the House of Representatives and the World Bank.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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