The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mrs. Anita Demetriou received today a delegation of the Armenian-Cypriot Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (IPCC) at the Armenian National Assembly, which is visiting Cyprus, following an invitation of the House of Representatives. The delegation is headed by the President of the Armenian-Cypriot FTA Mr. Hayk Konjoryan and includes Mr. Vladimir Vardanyan, Mr. Rustam Bakoyan, Mr. Hayk Tsirunyan, Ms. Karen Hambardzumyan and Ms. Arusyak Manavazyan. Present at the meeting was the Representative of the Armenian Religious Group in the Parliament Mr. Vartkes Mahtesyan.
Welcoming the members of the Armenia-Cyprus FTA, the Speaker of the Parliament said that the establishment of respective friendship delegations, within the framework of the Protocol of Cooperation signed by the two Parliaments in 2003, reflects the strong historical ties between the two countries and peoples, which are based on the common principles of international legitimacy and the protection of international law. Demetriou highlighted in particular the contribution of the Armenian community, as an integral part of Cypriot society, and its Representative in the House of Representatives, Mr. Makhtesian, in further strengthening these ties. In this regard, she noted that the Republic of Cyprus was the first country in Europe and the second in the world to recognize the Armenian genocide by a unanimous resolution of the Parliament in 1975, while another resolution of the Parliament criminalized its denial in 2015. It also noted the unanimous adoption, more recently, by the House of Representatives of three resolutions condemning Azerbaijan's violation of the ceasefire and that country's aggression, with Turkey's complicity, in Nagorno-Karabakh and against Armenia, and particularly criticized the blockade of the Lachin corridor, an action that caused a serious humanitarian crisis.
Cyprus, the Speaker said, is still experiencing, after forty-nine years, the consequences of the Turkish invasion and continued occupation and is facing increasing provocations and illegal actions by Turkey in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Mrs Demetriou expressed sincere appreciation for Armenia's principled position and firm support regarding the Cyprus problem and underlined the need to further strengthen cooperation and coordination between the Cyprus and Armenian delegations in the framework of parliamentary diplomacy for the assertion of the rights of the two peoples.
The Head of the Armenian delegation Mr. Hayk Konjoryan conveyed the cordial greetings of the Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly to the Speaker of the Parliament.
Mr. Konjoryan underlined that the strong ties between the two countries are the foundation for the high-level dialogue between the two Parliaments and his commitment to make every effort to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest, such as education and culture. He made special reference to the Armenian community as a strong link between the two countries and to the important work carried out in this context by the Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives. Konjoryan expressed Armenia's appreciation both for the recent unanimous resolution of the House of Representatives, in which Azerbaijan's aggression against Nagorno Karabakh is unequivocally condemned, and for the long-standing support of the House of Representatives at the bilateral level and in the framework of international parliamentary organizations, in which delegations of the two countries participate.
At the same time, Mr. Konjoryan reaffirmed Armenia's principled position on the Cyprus problem and his country's unwavering solidarity and support for the efforts to achieve a just solution to the Cyprus problem for the benefit of the Cypriot people.
Finally, there was an exchange of views on issues of wider international interest. The President of the Parliament stressed that, in the midst of an extremely difficult situation of geopolitical turbulence and upheavals, special attention is needed in dealing with complex challenges, always armed with an unwavering commitment to common principles, without discounts.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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