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The 17th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) concluded today in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, and in which the House of Representatives participated with a bipartite delegation, consisting of MPs Mr.Mr. Averof Neophytou (head) and Mr. Kostas Kostas (member). The main topic of the Plenary Session was the role of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean in the Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation in the 21st century. Neophytou pointed out, among other things, that the Mediterranean region has always been a theatre of great tensions and challenges and a key geopolitical point of historical, ethnic, political, political, military, economic and ideological conflicts, but also a region with many opportunities and prospects for development. He referred to the current flare-up of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its serious consequences, as well as to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea which are disrupting world trade.
Stressing that the Mediterranean basin is a crossroads of key global traffic corridors and home to more than 500 million people, Neophytou highlighted the urgent need for cooperation, beyond ethnic, racial, religious and social differences, on the basis of international law. As parliamentarians, Neophytou stressed, we must make every effort to put aside the tensions that continue to affect the peoples of the Mediterranean basin and which have a serious impact on the whole of Europe.
The Cypriot MP noted that the European Union has a historic duty to strengthen its cooperation with the states of the Union for the Mediterranean in order to address the challenges in a holistic manner. He also referred to other challenges facing the wider region, such as the climate crisis, air pollution and water and food shortages. Neophytou noted that the only way to effectively address these critical issues is through joint actions and synergies at both regional and international level. Neophytou noted that cooperation between the EU and its Mediterranean partners - with respect to international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea - will contribute to enhancing energy security and act as a catalyst for achieving conditions of peace, stability and prosperity in the troubled Eastern Mediterranean region.
Neophytou stressed the urgent need for the Parliamentary Assembly to exert influence on the governmental arm of the Union for the Mediterranean in order to achieve tangible results and find solutions to the issues that plague the peoples of the Mediterranean, underlining the importance of an integrated dialogue between the EU Member States and its Southern Mediterranean partners.
Responding to a report by the representative of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, MP Samil Ayrim, who accused Israel of invading Gaza and occupying Palestinian territories, Mr. Neophytou reminded him that Turkey - in violation of international law - invaded the Republic of Cyprus in 1974 and has since then occupied more than 36% of its territory.
During yesterday, the first day of the Assembly's work, the Assembly's committees met, where Mr. Neophytou participated in the session of the Committee on Energy, Environment and Water and Mr. Costa of the Committee on Political Affairs, Security and Human Rights.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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