The House President, Annita Demetriou, described the establishment of the Embassy of the Holy See in Cyprus as a very positive step, in her meeting with the Substitute for General Affairs at the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra on Friday.

Archbishop Parra is in Cyprus to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the Apostolic Nunciature in Cyprus, accompanied by the Nuncio (Ambassador) of the Holy See to the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso and the Chargé d’ affaires of the Holy See in Nicosia, Mons. Mauro Lalli.

According to a press release of the Parliament, President Demetriou underlined the importance of the historic visit of Pope Francis to Cyprus in December 2021 and his strong message on the need for peace and reconciliation to prevail in the world. This message, said Demetriou, must guide the leadership in the search for peaceful solutions, through dialogue and cooperation, whether it is in Cyprus, Ukraine or the Middle East, pointing out that there are no “frozen conflicts”.

Referring to the current developments regarding the Cyprus problem, in view of the descent to Cyprus of the personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General, the President of the Parliament underlined the commitment to the goal of resuming the talks from the point where they were interrupted in Crans Montana, to reaching a mutually beneficial solution, based on the agreed framework and the relevant UN resolutions, which will reunite the country for the benefit of the entire Cypriot people and especially the young people who hope for a better future, in conditions of lasting peace, security and prosperity, she said.

She noted that the Turkish side’s claim to accept a “two-state” solution, as a condition for the resumption of talks, undermines the prospect of reaching a solution and cannot be accepted, as it would legitimize the results of the Turkish invasion and continued occupation, stating that “great visions cannot be realized in divided homelands”. Demetriou also underlined the importance that the Republic of Cyprus attaches to the promotion of interdenominational dialogue.

The high official of the Holy See conveyed to the President of the Parliament the heartfelt greetings of Pope Francis. Pointing out the constant escalation of tension and violence, Archbishop Parra underlined the importance of dialogue, cooperation and solidarity to achieve conditions of peace and stability, both in Cyprus and in the wider region.