The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs Mr.Harris Georgiades and the Members of the Committee, Mr.Averof Neophytou, Mr.Marios Mavridis, Mr.Giorgos Loukaidis, Mrs.Marina Nikolaou, Mr.Chrysis Pantelidis, Mr. Kostis Efstathiou and MP Mrs. Alexandra Attalidou, had a meeting today with a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie (PAC), consisting of the Belgian MP and head of the European Region of the Assembly, Mr. Jean-Charles Luperto, the Member of Parliament, Ms Simona Bucura-Opprescu (Romania), the Secretary General of the CSE, Mr Damien Casselin and the Counsellor of the European Region, Mr Fatmir Leci. The meeting was attended by the Director General of the Parliament, Ms Tasoula Hieronymidou.
The President of the House of Representatives, Ms Anita Demetriou, who was present at the opening of the session, informed the members of the Committee on Foreign and European Affairs about the letter of intention of the House of Representatives to join the CSC, which she had forwarded to the President of the Assembly during her meeting with the members of the delegation, welcoming in particular the prospect of Parliament's participation in such a coalition and the synergies that could be achieved on the basis of the common principles and values promoted by Francophonie.
In welcoming the delegation, Mr Georgiades noted that the Commission attached great importance to the relationship that is expected to develop between the House of Representatives and the JPA and confirmed his and all the members of the Commission's desire to upgrade this institutional relationship, particularly in the fields of culture, education and research. The members of the Commission stressed the importance of the principles upheld by the Organisation, namely the defence of democracy, freedom and human rights, particularly for a country still under occupation, and referred to the historical and cultural links between Cyprus and the Francophonie.
Members of the CGS delegation welcomed the readiness of the House of Representatives to join the CGS and reviewed the international activities of the Convention since its establishment. They reported on the main themes of the Convention, including the dissemination of the French language and the encouragement of linguistic and cultural diversity, inter-parliamentary cooperation and the exchange of best practices, in particular with regard to good lawmaking and parliamentary diplomacy. Cyprus, they said, which is still under occupation while facing complex challenges due to its proximity to the volatile Middle East region and as a consequence of the migration crisis, will continue to fight for the defence of international law from this new forum in which ninety-one Parliaments are already participating.
(The text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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