MP George Loukaides, member of the Cypriot delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), participated yesterday in a meeting of the PACE's Political Affairs and Democracy Committee in Paris.
In the context of a discussion on the issue of ensuring peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, Mr. Loucaides stressed that the resolution of the Cyprus problem can make a decisive contribution to the consolidation of peace and stability in the volatile and volatile region of the Eastern Mediterranean. Furthermore, he noted, such a development would significantly enhance the prospect of improving Greek-Turkish relations. He expressed the hope that after the conclusion of the electoral processes in Turkey and Greece, there would be a new impetus in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.
Regarding developments in the Middle East, Mr.Loucaides pointed to the escalation of tensions and violence between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinian people, he said, have suffered for years from the continued occupation, colonisation and provocations by the State of Israel, which have been further aggravated since the new government came to power. He stressed the need for the CSTO to take a more active role in the peace process and suggested that parliamentary representatives of the Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative Council be invited to the work of the Political Affairs and Democracy Committee in the near future and that the CSTO Sub-Committee for the Middle East and the Arab World undertake a working visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in the near future. He also participated in a meeting of the CSTO Presidential Committee with representatives of opposition democratic forces in Russia, as part of the Assembly's efforts to continue the dialogue with civil society, human rights defenders, independent journalists and other democratic forces in the country that support the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the principles and values of the Council of Europe. The Presidential Committee was attended by the President of the CSTO Mr. Tiny Cox, MPs, representatives of political groups in the Assembly and the Secretary General of the CSTO Ms. Despina Hadjivassiliou.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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