Nicosia: House President Annita Demetriou, during a meeting with Portugal's Ambassador Carmen Silvestre, emphasized the crucial nature of the recent visit to Cyprus by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and European Commission's Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Demetriou discussed the potential resumption of meaningful negotiations aimed at a fair and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue, in line with international law and UN resolutions. She highlighted the importance of support from allies like Portugal in this effort.
The meeting underscored the strong and enduring bilateral relations between Cyprus and Portugal, founded on shared values and principles. Both officials expressed their desire to further enhance cooperation and exchanges between their respective parliaments.
The discussion also covered the development of synergies on bilateral and European levels, focusing on mutual interests. The role of parliamentary Friendship Groups in boosting collaboration and bilateral ties was also highlighted.
Ambassador Silvestre expressed a commitment to further advancing Cyprus-Portugal relations, particularly at the bilateral level. She and President Demetriou also exchanged views on parliamentary diplomacy, regional and international developments, and common challenges facing EU member states, such as housing, defense, and health issues.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 following Turkey's invasion and subsequent occupation of its northern third. Previous UN-led peace talks have been unsuccessful, primarily due to Turkish intransigence. The last round of negotiations in Crans-Montana in 2017 ended without resolution.
Antonio Guterres, with his tenure nearing completion, has announced plans to convene another meeting involving all parties after thorough preparation. He has achieved consensus from both sides and the guarantor powers. Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is engaging with the parties, while Raffaele Fitto serves as the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus, following Johannes Hahn.