Nicosia: The close ties of friendship and the excellent level of cooperation between Cyprus and France were highlighted during the meeting between the President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, and a delegation from the France-Cyprus Friendship Group in the French Senate, which is visiting Cyprus at the invitation of the House of Representatives.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the delegation is led by the President of the France-Cyprus Friendship Group, Samantha Cazebonne, and includes the Vice-President of the Group, Didier Marie, and Member Valerie Boyer. The delegation was accompanied by the French Ambassador to Cyprus, Cl©lia Chevrier Kolacko.
As stated, during the meeting, both sides noted the close ties of friendship between Cyprus and France, based on common principles and their Euro-Mediterranean identity, and the excellent level of cooperation that the two countries have developed within the framework of their strategic partnership in key areas such as defence, the economy, and education.
It is added that the House President expressed her sincere gratitude for France’s long-standing principled stance and support on the Cyprus problem and efforts to resolve it, in accordance with the relevant UN Resolutions and European values and principles.
Furthermore, in view of the upcoming meeting between the President of the Republic and the Turkish Cypriot leader with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Demetriou stressed the importance of keeping the process alive and reaffirmed the Greek Cypriot side’s commitment to the goal of resuming substantive negotiations within the UN framework.
She also stressed that the Turkish side’s demand for a ‘two-state solution’ cannot be accepted under any circumstances, as it would legitimise the fait accompli of the Turkish invasion and occupation, while noting the catalytic importance that a solution to the Cyprus problem could have for the prevalence of security and stability in the wider region.
The House President made special reference to Turkey’s violations of international law and human rights in Cyprus, and the illegal arrest and detention of five Greek Cypriots displaced by the illegal regime in the occupied territories. Drawing a parallel between the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Demetriou criticised the double standards of the international community with regard to Cyprus.
For her part, the President of the French-Cyprus French Group to the French Senate said that the current visit to Cyprus is a sign of the ongoing strengthening of relations and cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the areas of defence, education, and culture. She noted that Cyprus’ full membership of the International Organisation of La Francophonie has helped to bring the two countries even closer together.
With regard to the Cyprus problem, Cazebonne emphasised France’s readiness to support in every way possible the efforts to find a peaceful and fair solution, in accordance with the UN Resolutions on Cyprus.
She also noted Cyprus’ strategic role in the Mediterranean region, which, as she pointed out, is an area of enhanced cooperation on energy, the economy, and the environment, and expressed her appreciation for the significant assistance provided by Cyprus in evacuating French nationals from the Middle East and in transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Amalthea plan.
Furthermore, it is noted that in view of the Republic of Cyprus’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026, the House President informed the French Senators about the preparations of the House of Representatives in the context of the parliamentary dimension of the Cyprus Presidency.
Finally, issues of broader interest were discussed, with an emphasis on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, as well as gender equality issues, with Cazebonne noting that the election of Annita Demetriou as the first female President of the House of Representatives paves the way for more women to enter politics, the statement concludes.
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.