The Speaker of the Parliament, Mrs. Jean-Charles Luperto, the Member of Parliament, Ms Simona Bucura-Opprescu (Romania), the Secretary General of the CSE, Mr Damien Casselin and the Counsellor of the European Region, Mr Fatmir Leci. The meeting was attended by the Director General of the Parliament, Ms Tasoula Hieronymidou.
Welcoming the delegation, the President of the House of Representatives stressed that the official announcement of the House of Representatives' intention to participate, as an associate member, in the great family of Francophonie is a very important moment for the House, in terms of symbolism, but also of the prospects opened up for a very substantial and fruitful cooperation with the CSA, for the promotion and further strengthening of the principles and values of Francophonie and for the undertaking of joint initiatives and actions in key areas of action of the CSA, with particular emphasis on the empowerment of women and young people.
Ms Demetriou praised the multifaceted work of the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF) and the importance of its leading role in spreading democracy, freedom and human rights and in promoting peace, security and stability in the Francophone community and beyond. It welcomed the active and meaningful participation of Cyprus in the IOG and looked forward to the early upgrading of the Republic of Cyprus' membership status to that of a permanent member of the Organisation. In this regard, he noted the significant efforts made for the strengthening and wider dissemination of the Francophonie in Cyprus.
Handing over to the Head of Delegation a letter of intention of the House of Representatives to become a member of the CST to the President of the Assembly, Mr. Francis Drouin, the Speaker of the House of Representatives stressed that Cyprus and its Parliament reverently embrace the principles upheld and promoted by the IOGC, while it has been subjected to forty-nine years of flagrant violations by Turkey of international law and human rights as a result of the Turkish invasion and continued occupation. By joining the CST, the House of Representatives sends a strong signal that it will continue to fight for the defence and upholding of these principles and international legitimacy, as our country has done from the very first moment of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The head of the delegation, Belgian MP Mr. Jean-Charles Luperto welcomed the interest of the House of Representatives in joining the CSG, noting that the process is expected to be completed at the Assembly's session in Montreal in July 2024, a date which, he pointed out, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion, and the Assembly's message will be similar. He invited the President of Parliament to informally invite a delegation from Parliament to participate in the meetings that would precede it.
During the meeting, Belgian MP and Head of the European Region of the Convention, Mr Jean-Charles Luperto presented the historical milestones, priorities and objectives of the CST.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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