The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Anita Demetriou, received today the new Ambassador of Switzerland to Cyprus, Mr Christoph Burgener.
Welcoming the Swiss Ambassador, the Speaker of the House of Representatives wished him every success and underlined the readiness of the House of Representatives for every possible support in his work. During the meeting, the relations of friendship and cooperation that link the two countries on the basis of common principles were noted and the will to further strengthen them at all levels, including the parliamentary level, was expressed.
The Speaker of the House expressed her sincere thanks to Mr Burgener for Switzerland's firm principled position on the Cyprus problem and for the significant financial support that Switzerland provides to Cyprus for the implementation of important projects, mainly in the field of human rights.
Referring to the current situation regarding the Cyprus problem, the President of the House of Representatives stressed that the aim of the Greek Cypriot side is to resume the talks from where they were interrupted in order to reach a solution that will reunite the country, in accordance with international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We will never accept the Turkish side's claims of a "two-state" solution, thus legitimizing the Turkish occupation's fait accompli, Demetriou stressed. She criticized Turkey's intensifying provocations against the Republic of Cyprus, especially in the enclosed area of Famagusta and the increasing militarization of the occupied territories, actions which, as she pointed out, are moving us further away from the goal of a Cyprus settlement. Support from friendly countries, which share the same principles and values, is a basic precondition for the fulfilment of the aspirations of the entire Cypriot people, she stressed.
Burgener reaffirmed his country's firm principled position and readiness to support in every possible way the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, especially in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2023-2024.
Burgener reaffirmed his country's firm principled position and readiness to support in every possible way the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, especially in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2023-2024.
During the meeting, there was also an exchange of views on the possibility of taking initiatives in areas of common interest, including the protection of cultural heritage and the repatriation of stolen cultural property.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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