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- Ελληνικά
The 31st Annual Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues today in Bucharest.
Speaking yesterday in the Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, Mr. Christos Seneca stressed that as a result of the ongoing conflicts, in particular the war in Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East and attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, the economies of the OSCE participating States continue to suffer, while the mass migration of people fleeing the conflicts intensifies destabilization.
Referring to Cyprus in particular, Mr. Seneca said that the consequences of the ongoing Turkish occupation and the forcible displacement of 200,000 people for 50 years since the 1974 Turkish invasion still persist.
Referring to environmental risks in the OSCE region, Mr. Senekis said that, as almost every year, large-scale forest fires destroy vast areas in Cyprus, Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean basin and beyond, noting that climate change has dramatically worsened their extent and intensity. He expressed gratitude for the assistance of third countries such as Greece and Jordan in efforts to extinguish fires in Cyprus, noting that multilateral cooperation should be put on a more regular and structured basis.
Furthermore, Mr. Senekis referred to the consequences of climate change, which Mediterranean countries are facing, as prolonged heat waves, forest fires and water scarcity threaten the environment, biodiversity and public health.
Regarding Cyprus' contribution to efforts to promote multilateral cooperation for the protection of the environment, Mr. Senekis referred to the Initiative to address the impacts of climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region and the development of a Regional Action Plan, which is based on national obligations under the Paris Agreement. Finally, he referred to the Ministerial Meeting of the Commonwealth countries, hosted in Cyprus last April, aimed at promoting the sustainable development of the seas and oceans, which are precious resources and determinants of our economies and identity, he said.
(Text as sent from the House of Representatives)
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