The World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA) is visiting Cyprus between July 29 and 31, on the occasion of the '50th Dark Anniversary of the illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus'. The group said in a press release, that a delegation of WHIA consisting of 12 legislators of Hellenic descent from USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Ukraine has organised a three-day visit to Cyprus on the occasion of the 50th Dark Anniversary of the illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus. The programme includes meetings with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, the Minister of Defence Vasilis Palmas, the Hellenic Force in Cyprus (ELDYK) and other government officials in Cyprus. There will be also a joint meeting during the conference of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) - International Coordinating Committee 'Justice for Cyprus' (PSEKA), it adds. It also said that the WHIA has passed at the 14th General Assembly in Athens on July 21, 2023 a resolution on Cypr us stating its support to the President of Cyprus in his efforts to restart negotiations through the EU and the UN. It is noted that the WHIA is a global organisation established in August 1996 on a Greek government initiative. The organisation operates under the auspices of the Hellenic Parliament and comprises current and former elected members of legislatures of Greek descent in non-Greek speaking countries, it adds. Its main goal, it said, is to promote communication and strengthen relations between these legislators and the Hellenic Parliament, develop a common strategy regarding issues concerning Greece, Cyprus, and the Greek Diaspora, and promote Hellenism. 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. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed last January María Ángela Holgu ín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency
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