The 23rd Interparliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy, that took place in Madrid, in the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the current Presidency of the Council of the EU wrapped up on Monday. The Cyprus House was represented by MPs George Karoullas, George Koukoumas, Zacharias Koulias, Alekos Tryfonides and Alexandra Attalides.
In the framework of a meeting of the parliamentary delegations of the EU Mediterranean countries (GroupMed), the head of the Cypriot delegation, George Karoullas, briefed participants on the recent violations of the international law and Cyprus sovereignty by Turkey, most recently in the buffer zone near Pyla.
According to a House press release during the discussion on current developments in the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy Koukoumas underlined that an independent and impartial foreign and security policy of the EU requires respect to the international law, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of all states, including Cyprus, Ukraine and Serbia, commitment to peace and diplomacy and consistency on positions of principle, instead of a double standards rational.
MP Tryfonides referring to the challenges in the Common Security and Defence Policy reiterated the Republic of Cyprus’ commitment to the implementation of the EU Strategic Compass, underlining the need of enhancing European defence with a view to addressing current and emerging challenges in the broader region.
On her part, MP Attalides referred to the repercussions of the climate change, particularly in the Mediterranean countries and underlined the need to draft a European action plan to manage climate change.
On Friday August 18, 2023 men of the occupation regime in Cyprus’ Turkish occupied areas punched and kicked a group of international peacekeepers who obstructed crews illegally working on a road that would encroach on a U.N. controlled buffer zone.
The attack happened as peacekeepers stood in the way of work crews building a road to connect the Turkish occupied village of Arsos with the mixed Greek Cypriot-Turkish Cypriot village of Pyla, inside the buffer zone.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency