*Press Release
Active participation in European decision-making bodies and the promotion of our national issues are essential prerequisites for Cyprus to have a strong and assertive presence in the European Union.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In this context, Ari Hapeshian, a Strovolos City Council member and member of the Democratic Party, was selected by the European Committee of the Regions to participate in the Young Elected Politicians (YEP) Summit 2026, representing Cyprus at a European institution that brings together young elected representatives from the member states of the European Union.
During the Summit, Ari Hapeshian actively participated in the European dialogue, exchanging views on the challenges facing local communities, the role of local government, and the contribution of the younger generation to shaping European policies.
His remarks on the Cyprus issue were particularly significant. He emphasized that, 52 years after the Turkish invasion of 1974, part of the territory of a European Union member state remains under occupation. He stressed the need for the European Union to consistently defend its principles and values, without double standards, with regard to respect for international law, territorial integrity, and the sovereignty of states.
Bringing the Cyprus issue to the European level is not only a national obligation but also a matter of the European Union’s own credibility. The principles governing European integration must be consistently applied and must not be compromised when it comes to Cyprus.
For the DIPA, the presence of newly elected representatives in European institutions presents an opportunity for meaningful participation, the development of partnerships, and the strengthening of Cyprus’s voice. The goal is not merely to be present at international meetings, but to actively contribute to the dialogue and highlight the issues that affect the future of the country and its citizens.
Cyprus must be at the center of European discussions, not as a bystander to developments, but as an equal member state that demands consistency, justice, and respect for international law. The Cyprus issue cannot be an exception to the principles that Europe is called upon to defend.
