Bilateral relations, migration, in light of developments in Ceuta, the Cyprus issue and the regional situation were on the agenda of a meeting House of Representatives President Annita Demetriou held on Monday with Spanish Ambassador Mercedes Alonso Frayle.
During the meeting Demetriou and the Ambassador highlighted the close ties of friendship between Cyprus and Spain, which are based on common principles and values, the mutual respect of the two countries in the international legal order and their common status as EU member states, a House of Representatives press release said.
As regards the parliamentary cooperation, they both noted the importance of maintaining the new dynamics developed in bilateral exchanges, after the official visit of the President of the Spanish Congress to Cyprus in 2025, and the will to intensify cooperation in areas of common interest, such as migration challenges and dealing with the effects of the increase in the cost of living.
The President of the House underlined the solidarity of Cyprus with Spain for the migration crisis that broke out in Ceuta, and stressed the need for collective action at the EU level to deal with the situation.
Alonso Frayle expressed her readiness to contribute to the further strengthening of Spain’s relations with Cyprus, noting as a very positive development the increase in connectivity between the two countries, which will further boost exchanges.
Referring to the Cyprus issue the House Speaker expressed disappointment for the fact that no progress was achieved on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, due to Turkey’s continued intransigent stance.
She stressed that the Turkish side’s claim to a “two-state” solution, will never be accepted, as it would legitimise the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation.
The President of the House also underlined our side’s readiness to constructively contribute to the efforts to resume meaningful negotiations for a bilateral, bicommunal federal solution, in accordance with international law, the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and European values and principles.
Demetriou furthermore pointed out that in a period of significant challenges in the Middle East and beyond, the importance of security and stability is even more significant.
Referring to the case of Ukraine Demetriou underlined the need for consistent application of the principles of international law in the case of Cyprus and elsewhere, without exceptions and without the approach of double standards.
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.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.