Cyprus House delegation to attend PACE meeting

A three -member parliamentary delegation will travel to Strasbourg to attend the workings sessions of the first part of the 2009 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) meeting, which will take place from 26 to 30 January 2009.

The delegation comprises MPs Christos Pourgourides, Antigoni Papadopoulou and Phedias Sarikas.

Among the personalities who are expected to address the meeting is the Prime Minister of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spanish Foreign Minister and acting chairman of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Miguel Angel Moratinos as well as the President of the International Criminal Court Philippe Kirsch.

According to an official announcement issued here today, on the first day of the plenum, the credentials of PACE national delegations will be submitted for approval while the Assembly Committees will be reset for 2009.

The Cypriot delegation for the current year will comprise MPs Andros Kyprianou and Christos Pourgourides as permanent members and Antigoni Papadopoulou and Pheidias Saricas as substitute members. The head of the delegation will be Kyprianou.

Among issues of particular interest to be discussed at the meeting is implementation of resolution 1633 on the consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia, including the humanitarian aspect of the conflict.

A proposal for a discussion on the Gaza situation as well as the consequences of the international financial crisis is also expected to be submitted at the meeting.