The Cyprus issue, the conditions of increasing instability as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, immigration, but also the “Amalthea” Plan to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, were among the issues that the French Senator, Pascal Allizard, Special Representative for Mediterranean issues of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces Committee of the French Senate, discussed during his visit in Cyprus.
Allizard paid a visit to Cyprus, at the invitation of Cypriot MP and Vice President of OSCE PA, Irene Charalambides.
During his visit, Allizard, accompanied by Charalambides, was received by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and had separate meetings with the Minister of Defence, Vasilis Palmas, and Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry, George Papanastasiou, as well as a brief meeting with the Mayor of Nicosia, Constantinos Yiorkadjis, a House
of Representatives press release says.
He also attended a working dinner, hosted in his honour by Charalambides with the participation of Interior Minister, Konstantinos Ioannou, President of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Harris Georgiades, Ambassador of France in Nicosia, Salina Grenet-Catalano and Yiorkadjis.
During the meetings and the working dinner, the press release says, views were exchanged on the conditions of increasing instability as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and on the security challenges in particular in the Mediterranean region, as well as on the changing geopolitical balance of power in the region and its possible effects.
It is added that Allizard was informed about the current developments regarding the Cyprus issue and the ongoing efforts to resume talks to reach a solution, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, as well as about the humanitarian issue of the missing persons of Cyprus.
Furthermore, extensive reference was made to the migration issue and the increased difficulties faced by Cyprus and other Mediterranean states, particularly due to the flare-up in the Middle East.
Energy security issues were also discussed in light of the new discoveries of hydrocarbons in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone, and the effort made by the country to strengthen the contribution of renewable energy sources to its energy mix was noted from the Cypriot side.
In addition, according to the House of Representatives’ press release, during a meeting he had with the Commander of the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, Allizard was informed about the start of the implementation of the “Amalthea” initiative for the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza via a maritime corridor.
It is further noted that the Special Representative of the OSCE PA stressed the importance of further strengthening the Organisation’s interest and commitment in the Mediterranean region and the need to find political solutions
to the military conflicts that disrupt stability in the region.
Referring to Cyprus in particular, Allizard expressed the hope that the appointment of a UN Secretary General’s personal envoy would contribute to the resumption of negotiations with the aim of reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem.
It is noted that regarding the reactions of Turkey in relation to the energy programme of the Republic of Cyprus, Allizard underlined that international law must be respected.
Finally, as part of his visit, Allizard walked along the ceasefire line in old Nicosia and visited the Tomb of Makedonitissa, where in a special ceremony he laid a wreath in honour of the fallen. He also visited the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Larnaca.
Source: Cyprus News Agency