Mr Matsakis’ ‘liberal’ stance on equality

Sir,

My family is on this poster, and I am an employee of the European Parliament with a soft spot for Cyprus. I got to know the island when I first visited it with the ALDE Liberal group (currently Mr. Matsakis’ group) in 1996, long before Cyprus joined the EU.

As a former president of EGALITE, the association of LGBT staff of the European institutions, I witnessed the process of Cypriot sensitisation to the concept of the Copenhagen criteria, which include respect for human rights as a basic principle of the EU.

I wish the Cypriot population, the ALDE group, the EP and all of Europe’s citizens a serene and respectful debate on equality and mutual respect, and a truthful quest when it comes to the concept of judgement of others. Can we be balanced if we downgrade others?

How would a world free of bigotry look like? Can we enjoy more piece of mind if we allow others the same rights and freedom that we have?

Marion Oprel, Tielrode, Belgium

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.