The President of the Republic visited the Council of Europe

The President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, visited the Council of Europe (CoE) this morning and was received by the new President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE (PACE), Mr Theodoros Roussopoulos, the Secretary General of the CoE, Mrs Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis, and the Secretary General of the CoE, Mrs Marija Pejcinovic.

Subsequently, the President of the Republic signed the CoE’s visitors’ book and the PACE’s visitors’ book (Livres d’or).

In the Livre d’or of the CoE, President Christodoulides wrote the following:

“On the occasion of my Address to the PACE, I wish to reiterate my profound respect for this organisation. I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet the Secretary General, the President of the PACE, and the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Cyprus has been a member of the CoE since 1961, immediately after its independence in 1960; I reaffirm our firm commitment to maintain our close collaboration with the CoE in its tireless efforts for the protection of Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law.

75 years since its creation, the CoE remains our lighthouse for the principles we believe in. For Cyprus, the role of the CoE in our efforts for a just and viable solution for Cyprus has been vital, for which I am profoundly grateful. We remain committed to maintain the relevance of this organisation during these difficult times and challenges that we face.”

In the Livre d’or of the PACE, the President of the Republic wrote the following:

“It is a distinct honour to address the PACE, an institution that has been contributing immensely to the upholding of Human Rights and the consolidation of Democracy and Rule of Law in Europe and beyond.

I would like to thank you for this opportunity and to wish you a fruitful tenure and every success in your most important mandate as President of the PACE.”

The President of the Republic then had a meeting with the newly elected President of the PACE, Mr Roussopoulos, with whom they discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, the ongoing efforts of our side to resume the talks from where they were stopped in Crans Montana, regional and international developments, as well as the role played by the PACE in defending democracy and human rights.

Subsequently, the President of the Republic had separate meetings with the Secretary General of the CoE and the outgoing President of the PACE Mr Tiny Kox.

(RM/IA/NGian)

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