UK House of Commons Speaker begins three-day official visit

Speaker of the UK House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle begins a three-day official visit to Cyprus on Monday, following an invitation by House President Annita Demetriou.

It is the first official visit by a Speaker of the House of Commons to Cyprus and marks a milestone for the parliamentary relations between the two countries, the House said.

In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, Sir Lindsay said friendship and democracy “bind us together”, noting that bilateral friendship is at a high point.

He said it was at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament organised last October in Athens by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly that Sir Lindsay Hoyle had the opportunity to meet Demetriou, who extended the invitation to celebrate 60 years of the anniversary of Cyprus’ independence.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle will be accompanied by high ranking officials from the House of Commons and during his visit he will be received by President Nicos Anastasiades and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides in addition to Demetriou. He will also meet the President of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Harris Georgiades and members of the Committee.

Demetriou who will welcome Hoyle at the airport and host an official dinner in his honour.

On Tuesday Hoyle will address the Plenary of the House in an extraordinary session in the afternoon. He will also participate at a round table discussion with Demetriou and university students on parliamentary transparency.

He will also visit the walled city of Nicosia and the British Contingent of Unficyp as well as the British Bases in Episkopi and Akrotiri.