New Cypriot delegation at PACE

The composition of Cyprus delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has changed after the May parliamentary elections in Cyprus.

The Cypriot MPs who will participate at the PACE sessions are: head and permanent member of the delegation Andros Kyprianou (left wing AKEL party), permanent member Christos Pourgourides (main opposition DISI right wing party) and deputy members Antigoni Papadopoulou (Democratic Party DIKO) and Fedias Sarikas (Movement of the Social Democrats EDEK).

The delegation departs Sunday for Strasbourg to attend the deliberations of the third part of the 2006 PACE Session to take place June 26 – 30, 2006.

The Cypriot delegation will present its credentials for approval on the first day of the Session.

Among the issues to be discussed are alleged secret detentions and illegal inter-state transfers in Europe, as well as the balance between freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs – with the participation of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Other issues to be discussed include the referendum in Montenegro, the abolition of the death penalty in the Council of Europe member states and observer states.

The parliamentarians will also discuss the issue of violence against women, ahead of the launching of a three-year Council of Europe campaign on this theme, with the participation of the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women Yakin Erturk.

Jean Lemierre, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will take part in the Assembly’s annual debate on the contribution of the EBRD to economic development in central and Eastern Europe. (CNA)