[PIO] The Speaker of the House of Representatives Ms. Anita Demetriou received the High Commissioner of Canada to Cyprus Ms. Anna-Karine Asselin.

Friday, 8 September 2023

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ms. Anita Demetriou, received the High Commissioner of Canada to Cyprus, Ms. Anna-Karine Asselin, who is based in Athens.

During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the very good relations between Cyprus and Canada and expressed their willingness to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in areas of common interest, such as trade and education. Particular emphasis was placed on inter-parliamentary relations in view of the upcoming official visit of the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada Mr. Anthony Rota to Cyprus, following an invitation by Mrs. Demetriou.

Referring to the current developments regarding the Cyprus problem, the Speaker of the House of Representatives underlined the commitment of the Greek Cypriot side to the resumption of the talks from the point where they were interrupted, in order to reach a solution within the agreed framework, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The Cyprus problem is an international problem of invasion and occupation and a violation of international law. The Turkish side's claims for a "two-state" solution will not be accepted, she stressed. The Speaker deplored the intensifying Turkish provocations in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus and on the territory within the buffer zone, most recently the incidents in Pyla and the attack against members of the Peacekeeping Force and in the enclosed area of Famagusta. Such unacceptable actions, Demetriou pointed out, seriously undermine ongoing efforts to resume negotiations. She stressed that Turkey must comply with international law in order to achieve a solution that ensures respect for the human rights of all Cypriots and is beneficial to the entire region, including Turkey.

The High Commissioner first expressed her country's thanks and appreciation for the assistance provided by the Republic of Cyprus in the evacuation of Canadian citizens from Sudan. She reiterated Canada's principled position on the Cyprus problem, underlining that her country immediately condemned the incidents in Pyla and the attack on United Nations peacekeepers as a violation of international law. Asselin noted the country's significant contribution to UNFICYP and the milestone of the 60th anniversary in 2024 of the start of the Canadian Mission in Cyprus.

Finally, they exchanged views on issues of broader interest, including gender equality and the equal representation of women in decision-making centres, as a key component of democracy, as Ms Demetriou pointed out. The President of the Parliament expressed her and the House's readiness to undertake joint initiatives and actions in relation to these issues, which, she stressed, must remain a priority for the state, despite the urgent challenges facing the international community.

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