Dr Yiorghos Leventis, Director of International Security Forum, took part in three consecutive congresses held in Buenos Aires. The conventions under the title Ten Days of Global Democracy in Argentina took place between 30 September and 9 October 2010. In turn the congresses included the Parlamento Latinoamericano, the Campaign for the Establishment of UN Parliamentary Assembly (CEUNPA) and the Annual Meeting of the Council of the World Federalist Movement (WFM) of which the International Security Forum is an Associate Organization (AO).
The first congress Parlamento Latinoamericano held at the Congreso Nacional, discussed the South American continent’s integration process. Dr Leventis though participating with an observer status was given the floor for an intervention. In his remarks, Dr Leventis briefed the Latin American parliamentarians about the case of the Republic of Cyprus’s integration into the European Union. He pointed out that the noble idea underpinning the European integration project is respect for the diversity and identity of even the smallest of nations, which are given an equal say in the Union.
However, Dr Leventis stressed the paradox of Turkey on the one hand and of the UK on the other in raising obstacles for the integration of the whole of the territory of the Eastern Mediterranean island republic in the European Union. Turkey on the one hand aspires to become an EU-member, yet it is militarily occupying the northern third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC), thereby violating its territorial integrity. At the same time the implementation of the acquis – the body of EU law – is suspended for exactly the reason of continuing Turkish occupation.
On the other hand, the UK, ironically an EU partner bound by the European Treaty to act in a manner of solidarity, secured at the time of the RoC’s accession (1 May 2004), the exclusion of its so-called Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) on the southern coast of the island – constituting three per cent of its total territory – from integrating with the EU.
In conclusion, Dr Leventis hailed the point made by the lady fellow-participant MP from Willemstad, Curacao (‘Netherlands Antilles’, off the NW coast of Venezuela) that neo-colonialism forms a major obstacle in efforts for true and genuine integration both in the Latin American and European continents as well as elsewhere in the rest of the world. As such, neo-colonialist and expansionist designs against weaker states (and) former colonies should be condemned and terminated.
Secondly, Dr Leventis participated upon invitation extended personally by Mr. Andreas Bummel, Co-ordinator of CEUNPA at the Buenos Aires 2010 Meeting of the Campaign for the Establishment of UN Parliamentary Assembly held also at the Congreso Nacional.
Third and last, Dr Yiorghos Leventis participated in the Annual Meeting of the Council of the World Federalist Movement (WFM) held at the premises of the Consejo Argentino Para Las Relaciones Internacionales (CARI) also in Buenos Aires. Initially, invited as an observer, Dr Leventis was elected by an overwhelming majority Member of the WFM’s Council. His election is a clear reflection of ISF’s growing international role in the realm of global NGOs striving for the democratization of global governance.
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