On Wednesday, he had a meeting with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs Harris Georgiades and Committee Members Nikos Tornaritis, Marina Nikolaou, George Koukoumas, Christiana Erotokritou and Chrysi Pantelidis. The Czech delegation was also composed of Commissioners Marie Pošarová and Martin Exner. The delegation was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Cyprus Vladimir Němec. Georgiades noted the excellent relations between Cyprus and the Czech Republic on the basis of common principles and the existing prospects for further strengthening them also at the parliamentary level, both in the context of the upcoming Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, and at the bilateral level, especially through the institution of the respective Friendship Groups in the two Parliaments.
Describing the current difficult situation, Georgiades pointed out that all EU actions and priorities are inevitably affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its multiple consequences. Mr Georgiades underlined that the Republic of Cyprus, living through its own painful experience of the invasion and continued occupation of part of its territory by Turkey, remains firmly committed to international law. He stressed that Cyprus unequivocally condemned the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and fully implements the common framework of sanctions decided against Russia. He noted, in this regard, the resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, adopted unanimously by the House of Representatives. He stressed the need for the EU to support Member States hosting Ukrainian refugees, as well as the need to formulate a common European policy to address migratory pressures. Such a policy, Georgiades pointed out, must ensure respect for the human rights of migrants, but also set limits in order to stop the instrumentalisation of human suffering by authoritarian regimes, such as Turkey, which channels illegal migrants through the occupied territories into the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
Benešík said that the Czech Republic, having experienced occupation twice in its modern history, fully understands what Cyprus has suffered and is still suffering today. The Czech Republic, Mr Benešík said, stands by Cyprus in its efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.
He also referred to the difficulties faced by the Czech Republic, which hosts hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, mainly women, children and elderly people, stressing the need for joint management of this issue at the European level. He noted as priorities of the upcoming Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, apart from the management of the Ukrainian refugee crisis, the issues of energy and food security, as well as the fight against misinformation and false news.
On the part of the Cypriot MPs, the feelings of friendship of the Cypriot people towards the Czech people were underlined. A sincere appreciation was expressed for the principled positions and support of the Czech Republic with regard to the Cyprus problem and its resolution efforts.
As mentioned, the two-measure, two-stop logic of the international community regarding violations of international law by Russia in the case of Ukraine and by Turkey in the case of Cyprus, as well as regarding Turkey's non-implementation of collective sanctions against Russia, was also condemned. The Members of the Commission finally underlined that Cyprus shares the priorities of the Czech Presidency and looks forward to the best possible cooperation in this context.
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