Nicosia: The Cyprus issue and the deepening of bilateral cooperation were discussed on Tuesday by the Chair of the House Committee on Foreign and European Affairs during separate meetings with the Ambassadors of France and Kazakhstan to Cyprus, as well as with the Deputy Head of the Swedish Diplomatic Mission to Cyprus, according to statements issued by the House of Representatives.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the 'excellent' level of relations and cooperation between France and Cyprus was highlighted during a meeting between the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, George Karoullas, and the Ambassador of France to Cyprus, Cl©lia Chevrier-Kolacko. Karoullas expressed his gratitude for France's consistent principled stance, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and as a European partner, regarding the Cyprus issue and efforts to resolve it in accordance with international law and the relevant UN resolutions. He also expressed hope that the forthcoming visit of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus would provide further momentum towards the resumption of meaningful negotiations, despite the Turkish side's demand for a two-state solution and Turkey's continued provocations against the Republic of Cyprus.
Karoullas also expressed satisfaction with the prospects for expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation under the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed by the two countries. He placed particular emphasis on strengthening interparliamentary relations through increased exchanges at various levels, aiming to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest and identifying the most effective ways parliamentary diplomacy can contribute to achieving shared objectives. The French Ambassador reaffirmed France's commitment to continuously upgrading and expanding cooperation between France and Cyprus, both at government level and through enhanced parliamentary relations.
During his meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Cyprus, Nikolay Zhumakanov, Karoullas referred to the significant momentum the Cyprus-Kazakhstan relations have gained in recent years and reaffirmed the House of Representatives' strong commitment to strengthening interparliamentary exchanges and cooperation with Kazakhstan. Karoullas reiterated Cyprus' support for further strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the European Union and Kazakhstan, while expressing his sincere appreciation for Kazakhstan's principled position on the Cyprus issue. 'He noted that respect for international law constitutes a solid foundation for building strong and long-term relations between the two countries'.
Ambassador Zhumakanov stressed that relations between Cyprus and Kazakhstan are currently at an excellent level and have gained considerable momentum following the official visit of the President of the Republic of Cyprus to Kazakhstan, reciprocal visits by the two countries' Foreign Ministers, the establishment of embassies in both countries, and the launch of direct flights between Cyprus and Kazakhstan. Zhumakanov also underlined the importance of cooperation between the Parliaments of Kazakhstan and Cyprus, both bilaterally and within the framework of the international parliamentary organisations in which they participate. The Ambassador further emphasised Kazakhstan's firm commitment to the principles of international law regarding the Cyprus issue and expressed hope that positive progress would be achieved in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, for the benefit of both communities.
The Committee Chair also met with the Deputy Head of the Swedish Diplomatic Mission to Cyprus, Souad Abid. During the meeting, both sides noted the long-standing ties between Cyprus and Sweden and expressed their mutual commitment to continuing the close cooperation between the House of Representatives and the Embassy of Sweden in Cyprus, with a view to further strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries. Karoullas expressed his sincere appreciation for Sweden's consistent principled stance on the Cyprus issue and its efforts to support a settlement, as well as for Sweden's long-standing contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). He also extended his warm thanks for the constructive role played by the Swedish Embassy in Cyprus in promoting interfaith dialogue, reconciliation, and confidence-building measures between the two communities.
For her part, Abid reaffirmed Sweden's principled position on the Cyprus issue and her country's support for efforts for its resolution within the agreed United Nations framework. She also expressed hope for the reunification of Cyprus and the peaceful coexistence of the island's two communities, highlighting the active contribution of the Swedish Embassy towards achieving this goal. In this context, the two officials exchanged views on the prospects for resolving the Cyprus issue and on the need to intensify efforts to build trust between the two communities.
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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively. After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.