Nicosia: The historic ties between Denmark and Cyprus and Denmark’s long-standing contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) were highlighted during today’s meeting between a delegation from the Danish Parliament delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the President and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Danish delegation comprised the head of the Danish delegation to PACE, Mogens Jensen, and members Kim Valentin, Charlotte Munch, S¸ren S¸ndergaard, and Sascha Faxe. The delegation was accompanied by the Danish Ambassador to Cyprus, based in Athens, Per Fabricius Andersen.
As stated, welcoming the delegation, the Chairman of the Committee, Haris Georgiades, referred to the Turkish invasion and the continuing occupation of Cyprus and stressed that Turkey’s intransigent and revisionist stance is the main obstacle to efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
He also highlighted the close relations of friendship and cooperation that Cyprus maintains with all its neighbouring countries, except Turkey, while also noting the decisive role that Cyprus can play in addressing the challenges facing the important region of the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly in the areas of security, energy, and migration.
Georgiades stressed that the European Union must strengthen its presence and involvement in the region in order to transform it from a region of challenges into a region of opportunities and prospects.
It is noted that, for their part, committee members Marios Mavrides, Marina Nicolaou, Christiana Erotokritou, Chrysis Pantelides, Costis Efstathiou, and Alexandra Attalidou reaffirmed the Greek Cypriot side’s commitment to efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, based on the principles and values of the European Union and the Council of Europe, as well as the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
They also raised the issue of the illegal arrest and continued detention of five Greek Cypriots by the illegal occupation regime under inhumane conditions and requested the support of the Danish delegation for their immediate release.
It is added that the Danish MPs stressed that they condemn all human rights violations without exception, wherever they are committed.
Finally, views were exchanged on regional developments and issues of mutual and specific interest to Cyprus and Denmark, 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.
Five Greek Cypriots were ‘arrested’ on July 19 in the Turkish-occupied village of Trikomo, in the northern part of Cyprus, while visiting their properties and were charged by the ‘authorities’ of the illegal regime with ‘illegal entry’ and other charges. They continue to be illegally detained and to be subjected to ‘court sessions’ while some have been reported to suffer from health issues. The Cyprus government condemned the arrests, calling for the immediate release of the five, while a European Commission spokesperson said the EU ‘does not recognise the self-proclaimed state in the northern part of Cyprus and its so-called judicial system.’