USA: Cypriot, European Speakers discuss Cypriot issue
Cyprus News Agency, Nicosia
9 Sep 05
NEW YORK
In the framework of the Second World Conference of Speakers of
parliaments in New York, Cyprus House of Representatives President
Dhimitrios Khristofias attended a meeting of presidents of Parliaments
of Small States of Europe.
On the occasion of the discussion for citizenship, Khristofias
referred to the situation in Cyprus and underlined that as a result of
the ongoing Turkish occupation, Cyprus faces the problem of the
presence of 130,000 of Turkish settlers, in violation of the
international law.
Khristofias underlined that the presence of the settlers is a
violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic
of Cyprus.
Presidents of parliaments who took the floor afterwards expressed
their solidarity with the efforts for a just settlement of the Cyprus
question that will secure the interests both of Greek Cypriots and
Turkish Cypriots.
Cyprus, Malta, Luxembourg, Andorra, Iceland, Monaco, San Marino and
Liechtenstein comprise the small states group. The eight countries
decided to hold a conference of parliaments of the small states of
Europe to take place in Monaco in spring and referred to the issues
that will probably be discussed at the conference.
Khristofias met the president of the parliament of Armenia, Artur
Bagdasaryan, with whom he reviewed the course of the two parliament’s
relations especially as regards the implementation of the cooperation
protocol signed in Yerevan last November.
The two speakers also agreed the further exchange of visits between
the two parliaments.
Khristofias briefed his Armenian counterpart on the latest
developments in the Cyprus question and Bagdasaryan briefed
Khristofias on problems Armenia faces with Turkey.
They also reaffirmed the friendly relations between the people of the
two countries on the basis of common principles.
Khristofias also met with his counterparts of other countries.
During his meetings yesterday with the presidents of the Parliaments
of Malta and Luxembourg it was decided that the Cyprus House and these
countries would further enhance their relations, in the framework of
the exchange of visits.