Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, who is in Strasbourg to address the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), reaffirmed on Tuesday the Republic of Cyprus’ ‘firm commitment’ to maintain close collaboration with the CoE in its efforts for the protection of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
According to a Presidency press release, in the morning, President Christodoulides, visited the Council of Europe where he was welcomed by the new PACE President, Theodoros Roussopoulos, the PACE Secretary-General, Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis, and the Secretary-General of the CoE, Marija Pejcinovic.
The President of the Republic also signed the guest books of the CoE and the PACE (Livres d’or).
In the livre d’or of the CoE, President Christodoulides wrote, among other things, that, Cyprus, has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1961, immediately after independence in 1960, while he reaffirms ‘our firm commitment to maintain our close collaboration wit
h the Council of Europe in its tireless efforts for the protection of Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law.’
He also notes that, 75 years since its establishment, the Council of Europe ‘remains our lighthouse for the principles we believe in’. ‘For Cyprus, the role of the Council of Europe in our efforts for a just and viable solution for Cyprus has been vital, for which I am profoundly grateful’, he adds. ‘We remain committed to maintain the relevance of this organisation during these difficult times and challenges that we face,’ he concludes.
In the PACE livre d’or, the President of the Republic wrote that, it was ‘a distinct honour’ for him to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, ‘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.’
He also wished ‘a fruitful tenure and every success’ to the new President of the Parliamentary Assembly.
Afterwards, the President of th
e Republic had a meeting with Roussopoulos, with whom they discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus issue, the efforts of the Greek Cypriot side for the restart of the talks from where they left off in Crans Montana, regional and international developments, as well as PACE’s role in defending democracy and human rights.
President Christodoulides had separate meetings with the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe and with outgoing PACE President, Tiny Kox.
Source: Cyprus News Agency