15th Kyrenia Municipality Symposium on “Property and political implications” – “We are not disappointed and we do not compromise” – The usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas “causes pain, loss and anger”
< The usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied territories will be definitively ended with the resolution of the Cyprus problem, said on Saturday the Minister of Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, in his address to the 15th Symposium of the Municipality of Kyrenia on the topic “Property and political implications”, which was delivered on his behalf by the Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Elikkos Ilias.
Noting that, after more than 50 years, the law enforcement authorities of the Republic of Cyprus are working intensively, to bring to justice those who plunder the property of the displaced, he said that these measures are repressive in nature, but they are not going to eliminate the phenomenon.
“The phenomenon will be definitively ended with the resolution of the Cyprus problem,” he said. “To this end, the President of the Republic is working intensively to achieve the goal of reunifying our homeland,” he added.
Mr. Ioannou noted that since 1974, Turkey has “illegally occupied 37% of our territories, violating basic principles of International Law” and Kyrenia, like the other occupied territories of Cyprus, “awaits freedom and redemption.” “It is an urgent need to end the unacceptable status quo and restore the basic freedoms and human rights of all legal residents of Cyprus,” he said, noting that, despite the difficulties and obstacles of the Turkish side, “we are not disappointed and we do not compromise.”This year's Symposium, he said, touches on “an extremely important, but also complex aspect of the Cyprus problem, the property issue.”
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in our occupied territories, which is constantly being intensified by Turkey, constitutes a repeated crime that causes pain, loss and anger,” he said. “Our primary concern and pursuit is the creation of those conditions that will ensure the protection of human rightsin our country, including the right to protect the property of our displaced people,” he added.
In this context, he said, the current government, “for the first time in more than 50 years, is translating the aforementioned political will into action.” “Our law enforcement authorities, to the extent possible and amidst the adversities created by the ongoing occupation, are working intensively to bring to justice those who plunder the property of our displaced persons,” he said. “However, we must be honest with you and recognize that these measures are repressive in nature, but they are not going to eliminate the phenomenon,” he added.
The phenomenon will be definitively ended with the resolution of the Cyprus problem, he noted, adding that the President of the Republic is working intensively to achieve the goal of reunification.
“Our effort, although arduous, is based on targeted and fair arguments. It stems from the need, 50 years later, to arrive, through dialogue and utilizing the weapons of diplomacy, at a functional and fair solution. A solution based on the Resolutions of the United Nations and the principles of European and International Law,” he said, among other things.
He also said that the specific actions of the President of the Republic in the European and international community resulted in mobility on the Cyprus issue. “With stable, realistic and solid positions, we declare ourselves ready to come to the dialogue table even tomorrow,” he said. “We remain cautiously optimistic, pending the convening of a meeting under the Secretary-General, and we reiterate our political will and determination to liberate and reunite our homeland and create for future generations conditions of real peace, security, stability, progress and prosperity,” he said.
The Minister said that “our struggle” will only end when the Cypriot people coexist in a peaceful and prosperous Cyprus.
