The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, will make an official visit to the Republic of Cyprus on 8 and 9 September.
At a moment when Europe is confronting war inside and outside its borders, democratic erosion from within and disruptive global shocks, the visit underscores Secretary General Berset's call for a renewed European order grounded in democratic security.
"Democracy and peace are never guaranteed - they must be protected with purpose and urgency," said Secretary General Berset. "Cyprus reminds us why this matters - and how Europe can choose to stand together through its institutions, its values and its people."
During the visit, the Secretary General will meet the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, and the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Marios Hartsiotis. He will also meet the President of the Cypriot House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, and the country's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Discussions are expected to focus on cooperation between Cyprus and the Council of Europe, the country's forthcoming Presidency of the European Union and the unfolding crisis in the Middle East.
Whilst in Nicosia, Secretary General Berset will also meet Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis and walk along the Green Line - the UN buffer zone that runs across Cyprus and its capital - underscoring the Council of Europe's commitment to dialogue, reconciliation and the peaceful resolution of long-standing divisions.
In addition, the Secretary General is due to give a lecture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It will focus on democratic security - the idea that Europe's values are not just ideals, but key to its long-term peace and stability.
Background: Cyprus and the Council of Europe
