Akel seeks answers over parliamentary venue for Israel Allies Foundation group launch

Nicosia, Cyprus. Akel on Monday sought an explanation from House president Annita Demetriou over the use of a parliamentary hall to launch a cross-party group of MPs cooperating with the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF).

Questions over authorisation and funding

Writing to Demetriou, Akel parliamentary spokesman Giorgos Loukaides requested details of who had sought permission to use the Pentadaktylos conference room, who authorised it and the basis for that approval. He also asked who financed the event and what obligations the participating MPs had accepted.

Loukaides described the establishment of such a group within parliament as without precedent. He proposed referring the matter to the House institutions committee to determine whether parliamentary conduct rules cover membership of networks advancing third-country interests.

He also requested discussion at the forthcoming meeting of party leaders and clear rules governing comparable groups, including financial disclosure and access to parliamentary resources.

Concerns over use of House premises

The letter argued that last Wednesday’s event was difficult to reconcile with a decision reached during a meeting of party leaders, when parties reiterated that parliamentary premises should be reserved for parliamentary business or party activities.

Following that discussion, Direct Democracy withdrew its request to hold an event in parliament concerning its truth commission initiative. The event was relocated to the nearby House of the Citizen.

MPs involved and related developments

The IAF group was announced last week by six MPs, who subsequently met President Nikos Christodoulides. Its members are Diko’s Andreas Apostolou and Chrysis Pantelides, Disy’s George Karoullas and Charalambos Petrides, and Elam’s Sotiris Ioannou and Marios Pelekanos.

The announcement came two weeks after the launch of the Cyprus chapter of Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI), which included MPs representing those same parties.

A comparable dispute has arisen in Greece, where opposition parties have sought clarification about a reported Athens meeting involving Greek politicians and an IAF delegation.