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- Ελληνικά
Speaker of the House of Representatives Anita Demetriou received this afternoon the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate, Robert Menendez, during his visit to Cyprus. Mr Menendez was accompanied by the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Ms Julie Fisher.
Welcoming the US Senator, the Speaker of the House expressed the deep gratitude of the Cypriot people to a true friend of Cyprus who is a source of inspiration and fighting spirit for the defence of our common principles and democracy.
Mr Menendez expressed his pleasure at his visit to the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, stressing the importance of the legislature, as the most representative expression of democracy, in addressing long-term challenges.
The meeting noted the excellent level of relations between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus, which, it was noted, are at their best ever and underlined the common will to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in key areas of common interest, such as security, energy and education, with particular reference to the important role of Cypriots expatriates in the United States. Special reference was made to the added value of the inter-parliamentary dimension of cooperation, both at the bilateral level and in the framework of the "3+1" cooperation mechanism between the Parliaments of Cyprus, Greece and Israel, with the participation of the US. Demetriou, addressing the U.S. Senator, relies on the valuable support of sincere and steadfast friends, like you, in the very critical moments it is going through, due to the intensifying provocations and illegal actions of Turkey and the occupation regime within the buffer zone in the Pyla area and elsewhere and in the enclosed area of Famagusta, with the aim of creating new facts on the ground. Such actions and the Turkish side's insistence on a "two-state" solution, the Speaker said, undermine efforts to resume negotiations towards a just and viable solution, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, which will reunite Cyprus in peace and stability for the benefit of the entire Cypriot people, especially our young people and future generations.
Referring to the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Menendez noted the President of the Republic of Cyprus' firm commitment to the objective of resuming the talks. Looking forward to the appointment of a Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General soon, Mr. Menendez expressed the wish to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem, which will bring peace, security and prosperity to a reunited country. He noted that such a development would be in the interest of Turkey as well.
The President of the House of Representatives also criticized Turkey's channeling of irregular migrants through the occupied territories into the free areas, noting that as a result of the instrumentalization of the migration issue as part of the hybrid war that Turkey is waging against the Republic of Cyprus, Cyprus receives the largest number of irregular migrants in proportion to its population among the Member States of the European Union. He also criticised Turkey's refusal to cooperate in the investigation of the fate of the missing persons, the most tragic aspect of the Cyprus problem, he said.
Finally, the President of the House of Representatives, in response to questions from Mr Menendez, informed him of the role, responsibilities and work of the House of Representatives, particularly with regard to the most important pieces of legislation before the House.
Before leaving, the US Senator signed the visitors' book of the House of Representatives.
(Text as sent from the House of Representatives)
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