The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs Mr. Harris Georgiades and the Members of the Committee Mr. Marios Mavridis (Deputy Chairman), Mr. George Loukaidis, Mr. George Koukumas, Mrs. Marina Nikolaou, Mrs. Marios Karoyan met today with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Ireland, Mr. Seán Ó Ferghaíl and a delegation consisting of MPs Mr. Brendan Howlin and Mr. Ruairí Ó Murchú. The meeting took place in the context of an official visit of Mr. Seán Ó Ferghaíl to Cyprus, at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Anita Demetriou. The delegation was accompanied by the Irish Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr Conor Long.
On behalf of the delegation and the Irish Parliament, Mr Ó Ferghaíl expressed his sincere condolences on the unexpected death of the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Zeta Aimylianidou, and his appreciation for her admittedly important work.
Welcoming the President and Members of the House of Representatives of Ireland, Mr Georgiades underlined the close relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, based on common principles and values. Mr Georgiades said that as small states of the European Union (EU), Cyprus and Ireland face common challenges which can only be addressed through enhanced cooperation and joint action.
Noting the unity shown by EU Member States on the issue of Ukraine, Mr Georgiades underlined that Cyprus unequivocally condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine in a resolution adopted unanimously by the House of Representatives. At the same time, Georgiades said, Cyprus continues to experience the painful experience of the invasion and continued occupation of part of its territory by Turkey for 48 years. We expect similar support from the EU in its efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, with commitment to the rules of international order, security and stability and the relevant UN resolutions.
From the side of the Members of the Commission, it was stressed that the Cyprus problem is a problem of invasion and occupation and Turkey's dichotomous aspirations to the detriment of Cyprus and its people were condemned. Sincere thanks were expressed for Ireland's longstanding principled stance and support on the Cyprus problem, particularly during its current tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and within the EU, and for Ireland's long-standing contribution to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
Mr Ó Ferghaíl reaffirmed his country's commitment to efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and wished an end to the occupation and progress for the Cypriot people. At the same time, the President and Members of the House of Ireland expressed their appreciation for Cyprus' firm support for their country within the EU, particularly on the issue of Brexit and the need to fully implement the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol to the UK's EU Withdrawal Agreement, stressing that the Good Friday Agreement should be maintained.
During the meeting, there was also an exchange of views on possible ways to further strengthen Cyprus-Ireland cooperation, with particular emphasis on the education sector and the opportunities offered by Irish universities for Cypriot students, as well as in the fields of agriculture, tourism and information technology.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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