MPs Mr.Nikos Tornaritis (leader), Ms.Christiana Erotokritou and Mr.Kostis Efstathiou, members of the Cypriot delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), participate in a meeting of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy in Chania.
In the context of a discussion on ensuring peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, Mr. Tornaritis pointed out that despite the instability prevailing in the region, at the same time there is ample room and potential for regional cooperation, in order to more effectively address the challenges and seize the opportunities that arise. Cyprus, located at the crossroads of three continents, he said, has in recent years established as a key pillar of its foreign policy, a network of trilateral cooperation with its neighbours, a mutually beneficial development not only in the energy sector, but also in other key areas of action. A basic precondition for the development of regional cooperation, Mr. Tornaritis stressed, is commitment to and respect for international law and the promotion of good neighbourly relations. The resolution of the Cyprus problem, he stressed, will make a major contribution in this direction. In this context, the Cypriot MP criticized Turkey's expansionist policy, which, as she pointed out, harms the goal of peace, stability and prosperity in the entire region.
On the same issue, Ms Erotokritou referred to the changing current circumstances, noting that they affect the current balance of power in various ways, both within the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and in relations between them. In this context, he said that the role of the Council of Europe should be supportive, with the ultimate aim of strengthening and modernising democratic institutions and forces. Referring to the promotion of regional and energy cooperation, Ms Erotokritou noted that the bilateral and trilateral cooperation mechanisms that have been established bring significant benefits to the countries of the region. Particularly today, she added, due to the need to exploit alternative sources of energy supply for Europe, these partnerships become even more important provided that they are based on respect for international law and consist of reliable partners. Unfortunately, Ms Erotokritou stressed, Turkey's role and its revisionist policy against the sovereign rights of both the Republic of Cyprus and the Hellenic Republic violate international legitimacy and cause constant geopolitical tensions in the region. However, he pointed out that such cooperation is based on mutual respect for the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries and the application of the rule of law. Therefore, he said, Turkey's continued illegal provocations and claims in Cyprus and the ongoing Turkish occupation cannot be accepted. The natural wealth of Cyprus, he pointed out in conclusion, belongs to the entire Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots through the Republic of Cyprus.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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