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- Ελληνικά
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Mr. Harris Georgiades, met today with a group of candidates for the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece. They were accompanied by the Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus Mr. Ioannis Papameletiou and the Director of the Diplomatic Academy, Ambassador Mr. Michalis Diamesis.
Welcoming them to Cyprus and to the House of Representatives, Mr. Georgiades noted that this year's visit of the Greek Ambassadorial Candidates coincides with the 20th anniversary of the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union (EU). At the same time, Georgiades noted, it coincides with the tragic 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the ongoing illegal occupation of part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and its painful consequences. Georgiades also outlined the successful course that the country has followed since the Turkish invasion until its accession to the EU, with the decisive contribution of Greece, stressing that the achievement of forming a mature, functional and liberal democracy that Cyprus is today, with a robust economy, was made possible thanks to the perseverance and diligence of the Greek Cypriots.
In response to questions from the Ambassadorial candidates, Mr Georgiades analysed the constitutional system of the Republic of Cyprus, focusing on the clear separation of powers and its bicommunal character, as well as on the powers and functioning of the House of Representatives. Georgiades pointed out that Turkey's ultimate goal is to consolidate partition in its harshest form, which, he said, entails a number of negative issues, such as the issues of security and the demographic alteration of the character of Cyprus, due to the illegal colonization of the occupied territories, as well as the instrumentalization by Turkey of illegal immigrants.
Referring to the role of the Republic of Cyprus in the region, in the light of the new flare-up in the Middle East and the risk of an extension of the Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as the threats of the leader of Hezbollah against Cyprus, Mr. Georgiades stressed that Cyprus, despite its own open wound and its small size, manages to function as a pillar of security and stability in a highly unstable region, due to the very good relations it maintains with almost all its neighbours. The Republic of Cyprus in no way seeks to be involved in tension, but to contribute to the goal of stability in the region, Georgiades underlined. On the occasion of the establishment of a strategic dialogue between the US and Cyprus, Georgiades concluded by saying that Greece and Cyprus have strong reasons to want the continuation of the US engagement in the region.
(Text as sent from the House of Representatives)
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