Mar272024

On Tuesday 26 March 2024, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cyprus hosted a working lunch for the outgoing High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in the UK, Andreas Kakouris. The lunch was attended by APPG for Cyprus Chair Caroline Nokes MP, Honorary Chair Sir Roger Gale MP, Vice-Presidents Fabian Hamilton MP, Chris Stephens MP and Theresa Villiers MP, Honorary Secretary Paulette Hamilton MP, members Bob Blackman, Matthew Offord MP, Shadow Europe Minister Stephen Doughty MP, Lord Truscott MP, Mark Jenkinson MP and APPG Secretariat Christos Karaolis.

Welcoming the High Commissioner to the lunch, APPG for Cyprus President Caroline Nokes MP remarked that “‘On behalf of the entire membership of the Cyprus APPG, we have thoroughly enjoyed working with Andreas Kakouris during his term as Cyprus High Commissioner, as we have sought to strengthen U.K.-Cyprus ties and support efforts to reunite Cyprus.” Ms Nokes continued that “Andreas has always been very open, engaging and our discussions have always been incredibly informative. We wish him all the best as he returns to Cyprus to assume his new responsibilities.”

Reflecting on the farewell lunch, the High Commissioner said “I’m very grateful to the members of Cyprus APPG who attended the lunch, particularly on a day when so many other issues were being discussed in the chamber.” He thanked them for their efforts for a free reunited Cyprus and added that “It has been an honour to serve the Republic of Cyprus in the United Kingdom over the last 4.5 years and to get to know so many Parliamentarians who are passionate about Cyprus and committed to the reunification of the island” and that “Today’s lunch was also an excellent opportunity to inform our Parliamentary friends about the latest developments in Cyprus”