Presidential Visits
In Cyprus visit, President Efthymiou urges security based on trust
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- Friday, 17 February 2012
COPENHAGEN, 17 February 2012 – In a series of high-level meetings this week in Cyprus, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou stressed the unique role of the OSCE as a security organization with Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian dimensions. He emphasized in particular the potential of the parliamentary dimension to substantially contribute to the fulfillment of OSCE commitments.
"Parliamentary diplomacy is vital in the forging of solid relationships built on foundations of trust, which is key to building a more secure Mediterranean region," Efthymiou said.
President Efthymiou discusses peace process and OSCE participation during visit to Ramallah
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- Tuesday, 14 February 2012
RAMALLAH, 14 February 2012 -- OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President held a series of meetings in Ramallah Tuesday focused on peace in the Middle East and economic development in the Palestinian Territories.
Efthymiou met with Palestinian National Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki for a full exchange of views on the peace process. Efthymiou, accompanied by Greek Consular General Sotirios Athanassiou, urged for a resumption of direct negotiations between the sides.
"The Parliamentary Assembly supports a two-state solution, guaranteeing the security of the state of Israel and an independent Palestinian state," Efthymiou said. "The solution must be just and fair to be viable."
President Efthymiou urges peace, regional co-operation in official visit to Israel
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- Tuesday, 14 February 2012
JERUSALEM, 14 February 2012 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou pushed for greater OSCE activity from Israeli parliamentarians and aimed to encourage peaceful dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli leaders amid changing dynamics in the region during two days of meetings in Jerusalem that ended today.
Hosted by the Israeli Knesset and Speaker Reuven Rivlin, Efthymiou also met with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Shai Hermesh, alternate chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs Committee Meir Sheetrit, and other members of parliament and diplomats in Jerusalem.
President Efthymiou launches two-day visit to Israel and Palestinian territories
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- Monday, 13 February 2012
JERUSALEM, 13 February 2012 - OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou begins today a two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
President Efthymiou will meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Speaker of the Knesset Reuben Rivlin to discuss issues of mutual concern, including how the OSCE can best encourage regional co-operation among its partner nations in the Mediterranean.
Efthymiou will also meet with Chairman of the Knesset Committee for Foreign Affairs and Defence Meir Shitrit, Vice Premier and Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon and Knesset Member Shai Hermesh.
Efthymiou, Soares meet OSCE Chair-in-Office in Dublin
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- Wednesday, 01 February 2012
DUBLIN, 1 February 2012 -- OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou expressed support today for the Irish Chairmanship agenda, including internet freedom and conflict resolution, during a meeting with Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore.
The Assembly's Special Representative on South Caucasus Joao Soares and Secretary General Spencer Oliver joined President Efthymiou in the meeting with Gilmore to discuss common goals to further the OSCE's comprehensive approach to security. Frank Cogan, chair of the OSCE Task Force, also participated in the meeting.
Efthymiou promotes co-operation in speech to OSCE Permanent Council
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- Thursday, 03 November 2011
VIENNA, 3 November 2011 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou today laid out a vision to strengthen the world's largest regional security organization during a speech before the Organization's diplomatic body, the Permanent Council.
President Efthymiou (MP, Greece) called for closer co-operation between the Parliamentary Assembly's and Permanent Council's three committees covering politico-military security, economic and environmental co-operation, and humanitarian concerns. He also relayed decisions voted upon by the Assembly recommending greater transparency at the Permanent Council. The full speech can be found here.