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The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mrs Anita Demetriou met today with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Mr Tiny Kox, who is on an official visit to Cyprus.
Welcoming the President of the CSCE, the Speaker of the Parliament congratulated him on the work of the Assembly in promoting the principles of the Council of Europe as the guardian of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Mrs Demetriou underlined Cyprus' unwavering commitment to the principles and values of the Council of Europe, which, as she pointed out, must be preserved as the apple of our eye in the light of the complex challenges we are facing. He assured Mr. Kox that the House of Representatives, through its delegation to the CSCE, would continue to work with the same zeal to promote the principles and objectives of the Organisation
Referring to the Cyprus problem, the President of the Parliament underlined that the aim of the Greek Cypriot side is to resume negotiations from the point where they were suspended in Crans Montana, with a view to reaching a mutually beneficial solution in accordance with international and European law and the relevant UN Resolutions. A solution, Ms Demetriou said, that will reunite Cyprus in conditions of lasting peace and security and will showcase our country as an example of peaceful coexistence and opportunities for prosperity and progress for the Cypriot people as a whole and especially for young people. The Turkish claim for a "two-state" solution, which is outside the framework of the United Nations, will never be accepted, he stressed. He underlined that Turkey's intensifying provocations, both in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, particularly in the enclosed area of Famagusta, as well as the suffocating control exercised by the occupying power over Turkish Cypriots in the occupied areas, and the instrumentalization of irregular migrants by Turkey, undermine the prospects for a proper settlement of the Cyprus problem and must be ended.
On the basis of the same principles, the Speaker noted, the Republic of Cyprus has condemned from the very first moment the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stood by the Ukrainian people. Mrs Demetriou stressed that the international community must abandon the logic of two measures and two stations and show similar determination in relation to Cyprus, as it is rightly doing in the case of Ukraine. Kox noted the milestone of the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe held in Reykjavik last May and underlined the importance of respect for the principles and values of the Council of Europe by all its member states. On the Cyprus issue in particular, Mr Kox stressed the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and expressed the wish for the resumption of talks as soon as possible to reach a solution. Noting that when you are not a threat to your own people, you will not be a threat to your neighbour either, he stressed that Turkey must show respect for international law and the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and release political prisoners such as Mr Osman Kavala.
During the meeting, issues of broader concern to the CSTO were also discussed, with particular emphasis on promoting greater representation of women in decision-making centres and the participation of young people in political life.
In the afternoon, the CSE President will address the plenary session of the House of Representatives in a special session of the House.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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