House President highlights parliament's upgraded role

Cyprus House President, Annita Demetriou, noted on Wednesday that the parliament has upgraded its role both at the European and the international level by participating more extensively in political fora, has intensified its relations with the Cypriots MEPs and has promoted parliamentary diplomacy.

Speaking during a press conference to present the work that was done in 2021 and 2022 (until September), Demetriou said that the parliament focuses particularly on parliamentary diplomacy and that significant activities have been undertaken to address major diplomatic and regional challenges.

Demetriou said that initiatives were undertaken concerning the invasion of Russia in Ukraine and its obvious similarity with the invasion of Turkey to Cyprus and the double standards that the international community has followed, the Cyprus problem, Turkey’s effort for the recognition of the illegal entity that was set up in Cyprus' Turkish-occupied areas and other issues.

She noted that the parliament was present at the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform and challenged arguments and positions in favour of the recognition of the pseudostate.

Moreover she referred to her participation at a visit at the Polish-Ukrainian border, the visits of prominent foreign officials and other activities, conferences, events and publications.

According to Demetriou during the parliamentary period 2021-2022 742 meetings took place and 218 bills, 104 regulations and 247 legislative proposals were submitted.

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.