1.    Introduction

The development of international parliamentary activity has been one of the main goals of the House of Representatives from the independence of the Republic of Cyprus to this day. The main inhibiting factors in the rapid implementation of this project have been the dramatic developments in relation to the Cyprus problem, as well as the limited number of MPs and personnel of the House, which today appears to be clearly disproportionate, as its international activities have increased sharply.

The creation of the International Relations Service in 1978, set the stage for the systematic promotion of multifaceted and multilevel international parliamentary activity. Thus, the establishment of bilateral relations initially with the parliaments of the countries of the region, European countries and the member states of the UN Security Council, was gradually expanded to cover almost all countries in the world. Today, the House of Representatives maintains friendly and cooperative relations with a significant number of national parliaments and actively and equally participates in the European and international parliamentary stage, making the most of tools offered in the field of parliamentary diplomacy and promoting the best interests of the Republic.

The substantial contribution of the House of Representatives to achieving the goal of resolving the Cyprus problem on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions and in accordance with the values and principles of the European Union is a central theme of the House's international activities. At the same time, as a member of the European Union and in the context of enhanced cooperation between national parliaments and the European Parliament, as a result of the Lisbon Treaty, the House is actively involved in discussions pertaining to key issues of concern to European citizens and in shaping related European policies.

Another key component of the foreign policy of the Republic of Cyprus and the activity of the House of Representatives is to highlight and make use of the significant advantages of Cyprus as a factor of regional security and stability in the wider Eastern Mediterranean and as a bridge of dialogue and cooperation between Europe and the Middle East. In light of the growing challenges in the region, but also due to significant energy developments in relation to Cyprus and beyond, special emphasis is placed on the geostrategic role of our country in utilizing energy as a catalyst for peace, stability and prosperity and in highlighting the Southeastern Mediterranean, as a reliable alternative route for achieving European energy security.

Contributing to the promotion of these goals, the House of Representatives has undertaken the initiative to co-develop with the Hellenic Parliament an institutionalized framework for cooperation with parliaments of countries in the region. This cooperation is aimed at all countries in the region that embrace the same principles and serve the common vision of achieving conditions of peace, stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean region, through joint soft policy actions, in important areas of mutual interest aimed at achieving tangible results. So far, institutionalized tripartite co-operation frameworks have been developed and Trilateral Meetings have been held with the Parliaments of Israel, Egypt and Jordan at the level of Speakers of Parliaments and / or the respective Parliamentary Committees on Foreign Affairs.

At the same time, the House of Representatives seeks to make a substantial contribution to the discussion of issues of wider international interest, in the context of bilateral exchanges, European and international parliamentary organizations and meetings, as well as through the hosting of various regional, European and international parliamentary activities.

The exchange of visits and the establishment of Friendship Groups on the basis of reciprocity with other parliaments, are means of developing bilateral relations, while the activity of the small-sized Cyprus delegations in European and international parliamentary organisations, to which the House of Representatives is involved, is remarkably significant.

As a result of this activity, important resolutions and statements have been adopted from time to time by European and international parliamentary organisations regarding the Cyprus problem, as well as on other issues that concern the international arena.

The international activities of the House of Representatives are mainly undertaken by the President of the House, the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, and other parliamentary committees depending on the issues and competencies in addition to delegations of the House to international parliamentary organisations.

The President's multiple international activities, in Cyprus and abroad, include communicating, on a regular basis, with his counterparts and the Presidents of international parliamentary organisations to provide information on the current developments in the Cyprus problem and / or following developments of wider political interest. The practice of informing international parliamentary organisations and national parliaments is also followed in cases of adoption of resolutions by the House on the Cyprus problem and / or other important international developments. Moreover, in the context of his contacts with officials of other countries, the President of Parliament develops initiatives and promotes actions in various fields in the framework of parliamentary diplomacy and beyond, contributing substantially to the promotion of the goals and interests of the Republic of Cyprus.

The House of Representatives participates in regular meetings of European Parliament Committees with respective Committees of the national parliaments of European Union countries, in meetings within the parliamentary dimension of the current Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and in various other activities. The contribution of the House of Representatives to the highly successful Cypriot Presidency in the second half of 2012 was also substantial. The House also participates as a full member to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Interparliamentary Union, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (founding member), the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (founding member), the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (founding member) and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (founding member). Lastly, the House participates on an ad-hoc basis in Seminars for the Mediterranean Dialogue of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Special Group on the Mediterranean and Middle East, as well as in a number of other conferences and regional / global parliamentary activities.

The House also maintains regular communication with members of the cypriot diaspora and their organisations around the world, acknowledging their valuable contribution to maintaining ties with their homeland and to promoting the rights and interests of the Republic of Cyprus.

Moreover, the House develops regular cooperation with various Bodies, dealing with the promotion of the economic and commercial relations of Cyprus with other countries.

International parliamentary activities are reviewed at the end of each parliamentary session and are part of the Annual Report, which the President of the House presents during a press conference.