Nicosia: Cooperation between Cyprus and the Council of Europe (CoE), Cyprus’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the crisis in the Middle East are expected to be topics of discussion during an official visit by the Secretary General of the CoE, Alain Berset, to the Republic of Cyprus on September 8 and 9. The visit will emphasize the Council of Europe’s commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and the peaceful resolution of longstanding divisions.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the visit comes at a time when Europe is dealing with conflicts both inside and outside its borders, democratic challenges, and global disruptions. The visit highlights Secretary General Berset’s appeal for a renewed European order rooted in democratic security.
Secretary General Berset stated, “Democracy and peace are never guaranteed – they must be protected with purpose and urgency. Cyprus reminds us why this matters – and how Europe can choose to stand together through its institutions, its values, and its people.”
During the visit, the Secretary General will meet with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, and the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Marios Hartsiotis. Meetings will also occur with the President of the Cyprus House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, and the country’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
While in Nicosia, Secretary General Berset will meet Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis and walk along the Green Line, the UN buffer zone that runs across Cyprus and its capital. This gesture underscores the Council of Europe’s commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and peaceful resolution of longstanding divisions.
The Secretary General is also scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on democratic security, which is the concept that Europe’s values are crucial to its long-term peace and stability.