The 22nd Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), which took place in Stockholm today as part of the parliamentary dimension of the current Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), concluded in Stockholm. The Conference was attended by MEPs Mr. George Karoullas (leader), Mr. George Koukumas, Mr. The topics of discussion were the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, priorities in the areas of CFSP and CSDP, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and security and energy issues in the Arctic.
The topics of discussion were the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, the priorities in the areas of CFSP and CSDP, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and security and energy issues in the Arctic.
The topics of discussion were the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, the priorities in the areas of CFSP and CSDP, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and security and energy issues in the Arctic.
Mr. Karoullas said that the emerging diplomacy of earthquakes calls for action both in the field of humanitarian assistance and the prevention of nuclear accidents. In this regard, he expressed concern that a new nuclear power was emerging on the Union's borders in view of the operation of the nuclear power plant at Akkuyu and pointed out the need to develop a collective mechanism for its scientific monitoring. The Strategic Compass, Karoullas underlined, refers to challenges and unilateral actions and violations of sovereign rights against EU Member States and the need to develop a relationship of cooperation and mutual benefit, based on the principles of good neighbourliness, which will be in the interest of both the EU and Turkey. We call on Turkey, he stressed, to end its illegal actions and threats and its hybrid warfare aimed at destabilising the Republic of Cyprus. In response to a reference by a Turkish MP to the Republic of Cyprus as "half a country", Mr. Karoullas described as unacceptable the questioning of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and called on Turkey to respect human rights in Cyprus, part of which it has occupied since 1974, and to comply with the criteria set in the framework of its European course.[REFERRING TO THE EU'S ROLE IN ACHIEVING SECURITY AND STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, KOUKOUMAS STRESSED THAT EFFORTS SHOULD FOCUS ON THE OBJECTIVES OF ESTABLISHING A ZONE FREE OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF ARMS EXPORTS TO THE MIDDLE EAST BY EU MEMBER STATES. HE ALSO STRESSED THAT THE EU SHOULD DEMONSTRATE CONSISTENCY IN ITS FOREIGN POLICY, AVOIDING A TWO-MEASURE, TWO-STOP POLICY TOWARDS VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS, IN ORDER TO PRESERVE ITS CREDIBILITY. TRYFONIDES REITERATED THE COMMITMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE EU STRATEGIC COMPASS, STRESSING THE URGENT NEED FOR THE IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HYBRID TOOLKIT, IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN EUROPEAN DEFENCE AND PREVENT ACTIONS THAT UNDERMINE IT. MR. TRYFONIDES CALLED ON MEMBER STATES TO SHOW PRACTICAL SOLIDARITY TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS FUTURE CHALLENGES IN THE REGION, STRESSING THAT CYPRUS IS UNDER CONSTANT THREAT.
Ms. Attalidou expressed Cyprus' full solidarity and support to the people of Ukraine. She stressed that along with the implementation of sanctions, it is necessary to open channels of communication with the people of Russia in order to refute Putin's rhetoric, which presents the West as a threat to Russia's security and morality. He also stressed that the EU has a moral obligation to support all those who are persecuted and imprisoned by the regime in Russia and to condemn human rights violations, as it has done in the past with regard to Turkey, Belarus and Iran.
(The statement as sent by the House of Representatives)
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