The firm position of the Republic of Cyprus on the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus problem, expressed this morning the Speaker of the Parliament, Anita Demetriou, in a meeting with the Italian MP, Piero Fassino, and representative of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), who has been on a working visit to Cyprus since yesterday.
Mr Fassino, in consultation with the Cypriot representatives to the CSCE, proceeded to introduce the item "Call for the return of Famagusta to its legal inhabitants", on behalf of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy. During his visit to Cyprus, he is going to have meetings with the political leadership on this issue, as well as with other stakeholders.
As Mrs Demetriou said in a statement after the meeting, during their discussion the Italian MP was informed "about all the provocative actions that continue to take place in Famagusta, culminating in the latest statements of Mr. "We believe that his presence here is very important, as well as the role of the EU itself, to put pressure on Turkey and to stop and lift any illegal actions in Famagusta."
"We believe that his presence here is very important, as well as the role of the EU itself, to put pressure on Turkey and to stop and lift any illegal actions in Famagusta", Mrs. In response to a reporter's question, Demetriou said that Mr Fassino "understands our positions, understands that it has to do with legitimacy, that it has to do with the UN, with the same principles and values of the EU, and of course recognizes the difficulties that exist."
The President of the Parliament noted that through the meetings with the President of the Republic, as well as with other bodies, the aim is "to make it clear that our firm position from the beginning is to return to the negotiating table, within the framework of a solution resulting from the UN resolutions, so that we can move one step further".
She added that this cannot happen as long as Tatar and Erdogan are discussing a solution framework incompatible with the resolutions, illegal, which cannot ensure reunification and peace on the island, she explained.
"Under no circumstances can we accept a two-state solution and we have made that clear, or anything incompatible with legitimacy or that in any way implies the legitimacy of the occupation," she stressed. Demetriou explained that through the representations made within the framework of parliamentary diplomacy, the Republic of Cyprus is asking, "in the same way that the entire European community stands on the issue of Ukraine vis-à-vis Russia, which is clearly breaking the law, on the basis of international law, in the same way we ask for the support of the EU on the Cyprus issue, after half a century of illegal actions by Turkey, culminating in what it is now attempting to do once again in the enclosed area of Famagusta".
He further stressed that "our alignment on matters of principle cannot be conditional". He also said that "the violation of UN resolutions cannot be tolerated, we cannot continue to whistle indifferently in the face of provocative statements that I believe take us too far backwards."
"We will never stop fighting, using parliamentary diplomacy, using every circumstance to be able to remind us that we need to reunite our country and in particular that Famagusta should be returned to its legitimate inhabitants."
Source: KYPE
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
