Cypriot and British political representatives joined NEPOMAK (the World Organisation for Young Overseas Cypriots) and its guests earlier this week, for a Parliamentary reception to mark the tenth anniversary of Cyprus’ accession to the European Union.
The discussion was chaired by Sir Roger Gale MP and featured a keynote speech from the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Dr Ioannis Kasoulides, who described the UK as “a partner of importance”. Dr Kasoulides addressed several key themes during his speech, including the importance and long-standing nature of relations between the two countries; how he sees them progressing under the leadership of President Anastasiades and Prime Minister David Cameron; the island’s role within the EU; and the improving economic situation following last year’s financial crash. He also updated those present on developments around the ongoing Cyprus issue, as well as the Cypriot Government’s proposals to engage with its neighbours around the extensive natural gas reserves recently discovered in the eastern Mediterranean – a development he said he hopes will “benefit…the future generations of the region”. The Foreign Minister also reassured the room, with several Members of Parliament present, that Cyprus would support the UK and other EU member states in “the fight [against] several asymmetric threats” to the region, such as the ongoing crisis in Syria. He added that Cyprus’ fellow EU nations should view the island as “a safe haven”. Sir Alan Meale MP rounded off the discussion by describing the progress he believes Cyprus has made during the past ten years since it joined the EU and said he was optimistic about the island’s future as a member state of the Union.
MPs from across the political spectrum, including Simon Hughes MP, Jim Dobbin MP, Sir Gerald Kaufman MP, David Burrowes MP and Shadow Europe Minister Gareth Thomas MP then joined other guests, including the High Commissioner for the Republic of Cyprus in London – Mr Euripides Evriviades – Conservative MEP Marina Yannakoudakis, the Deputy Mayor of Cambridge George Pippas, and FCO representatives Mrs Jill Morris (Director, Europe) and Mrs Louise de Sousa (Head of Europe – Mediterranean), for a reception.
Christos Karaolis, Global President of NEPOMAK, was delighted with the quality of the discussion and engagement between the Cypriot and British politicians and members of the Cypriot diaspora community in the UK over the course of the evening. He said that this May represents “a significant milestone” in the island’s international role and that the Cypriot community in the UK “stands full-square behind the efforts of the President, Foreign Minister and Government of Cyprus, in the ongoing negotiations, to find a lasting solution to the Cyprus issue.”
Antonia Savvides, UK President of NEPOMAK would like to give special thanks to Bryan Cave LLP and Katsouris Brothers (Cypressa) for kindly sponsoring the event. Bryan Cave LLP is a leading business and litigation firm with global reach, operating across 27 offices worldwide (www.bryancave.com). Cypressa is one of the largest suppliers of Mediterranean goods to manufacturers, wholesalers, supermarkets and independent shops in the UK and Ireland (www.cypressa.co.uk).