Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus House President Annita Demetriou said the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday is a “show of solidarity in practice” for Cyprus.
Demetriou cites support measures after drone incident
In a social media post, Demetriou said her party, Disy, “welcomes the statements of support and the substantive actions” taken in support of Cyprus after the island was hit by an Iranian-made drone last week. She referred to “including the dispatch of military force” by both France and Greece in recent days.
Demetriou said the presence of the two leaders is “a show of European solidarity towards the Republic of Cyprus in practice,” adding that Cyprus is “the European Union member state which is at the forefront of developments in the eastern Mediterranean.”
Reference to foreign policy launched in 2013
Demetriou said the visit “highlights the importance of the multi-level foreign policy which Cyprus began to follow in 2013,” when former president and former Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades was first elected.
She said the policy “has rightly continued to this day,” noting that President Nikos Christodoulides is a former Disy member and served as Anastasiades’ foreign minister between 2018 and 2022.
Call for plan to address regional risks
Demetriou said Disy maintains its position in favour of strengthening the Republic of Cyprus’ defences against current challenges and threats, and called on the government to devise “a clear plan to address the indirect risks arising from developments in the region.”
She said the risks include “economic impacts” and “the possibility of new migratory flows,” adding that preparedness requires coordinated and timely actions and that Disy is ready to contribute “constructively and responsibly.”
What measures do you think Cyprus should prioritise to address indirect risks from developments in the region?
