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French Senator Pascal Allizard, Special Representative for the Mediterranean of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).The Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces Committee of the French Senate, concluded his visit to Cyprus yesterday, at the invitation of the Vice-Chairwoman of the CSC. He came to Cyprus after a visit to Cyprus on the occasion of the invitation of Ms. Irene Charalambidou of the OSCE.
During his visit, Mr Allizard, accompanied by Mrs Charalambidou, was received by the President of the Republic Mr Nicos Christodoulides and had separate meetings with the Minister of Defence Mr Vassilis Palma and the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry Mr George Papanastasiou, as well as a brief meeting with the Mayor of Nicosia Mr Constantinos Yiorkatzis. He also attended a working dinner hosted in his honour by Mrs Charalambidou in the presence of the Minister of Interior Mr Konstantinos Ioannou, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs Mr Harris Georgiades, the Ambassador of France to Cyprus Ms Salina Grenet-Catalano and the Mayor of Nicosia Mr Konstantinos Yiorkatzis.
Moreover, as part of his visit, Mr Allizard walked along the ceasefire line in Old Nicosia and visited the Macedonitissa Mound, where he laid a wreath in honour of the fallen in a special ceremony. He also visited the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Larnaca.
During the aforementioned meetings and the working dinner, views were exchanged on the conditions of increasing instability as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and on security challenges in the Mediterranean region in particular, as well as on the changing geopolitical balance of power in the region and its possible implications.
During the aforementioned meetings and the working dinner, views were exchanged on the conditions of increasing instability as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and on security challenges in the Mediterranean region in particular, as well as on the changing geopolitical balance of power in the region and its possible implications. Mr Allizard was briefed on current developments regarding the Cyprus problem and on the ongoing efforts to resume talks towards a solution in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, as well as on the humanitarian issue of determining the fate of the missing persons in Cyprus. Extensive reference was also made to the migration issue and the increased difficulties faced by Cyprus and other Mediterranean states, in particular due to the flare-up in the Middle East.
Energy security issues were also discussed, in the light of new discoveries of hydrocarbons in the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone and the efforts made by Cyprus to strengthen the contribution of renewable energy sources in its energy mix. In addition, during his meeting with the Commander of the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, Mr Allizard was informed about the launch of the implementation of the Amalthea Plan for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The Special Representative of the OSCE CSO stressed the importance of further strengthening the Organization's interest and engagement in the Mediterranean region and the need to find political solutions to the military conflicts that disrupt stability in the region. On Cyprus in particular, Mr Allizard expressed the hope that the appointment of a Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General would contribute to the resumption of negotiations to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. Referring to the reactions from Turkey in relation to the energy programme of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Allizard stressed that international law must be respected.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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