Filenews 24 March 2021
The British Inter-Party Parliamentary Committee (APPG) for Cyprus on Monday held its annual General Assembly and elected its new format, with decades-old Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale re-elected as President.
The Members of the Commission expressed their strong support for a solution to the Cyprus problem that would reunite the island on the basis of a bi-social, bi-community federation in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
Following the emergence of the new composition, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in the United Kingdom Andreas Kakouris participated in the online meeting and briefed Members on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue. He emphasised the forthcoming informal five-day meeting under the United Nations, which will also include the British side.
Mr Kakounis said he hoped the five-day summit would lead to positive steps towards the reunification of Cyprus in accordance with international law, Security Council resolutions and EU principles.
He noted, however, that Turkey now publicly supports the permanent partition of Cyprus instead of reunification. The High Commissioner added, however, that the position of the international community in favour of the bi-social, bi-community federation has not changed.
MePs had the opportunity to ask questions to the High Commissioner on various issues related to the Cyprus issue, such as the illegal opening of Varosha and attempts to recognise the pseudo-state.
With regard to Varosha, Mr Kakouris said that unfortunately illegal actions in the region have not been overturned.
Sir Roger Gale said it was vital for the international community to do more because the illegal opening of Varosha "encourages" Turkey and other authoritarian regimes around the world.
Vice-Chair men of the Inter-Party Parliamentary Committee on Cyprus were Lord Adonis (Labour), Dr Lisa Cameron (SNP), Pambos Charalambous (Labour), Baroness Massey (Labour), Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrats), Caroline Noakes (Conservative Party), Teresa Villiers (Conservatives). Labour's Jack Droumy was elected as secretary and Conservative Treasurer Cheryl Murray was elected.
Appg members are now still 31 members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Source: eyenews/CYPE
