The solution of the Cyprus issue is a major issue on the agenda of the President of the Republic, said Minister of Interior Constantinos Ioannou on Sunday, who noted that the current effort is focused on the development of a European initiative, within the framework of the United Nations and based on a bizonal bicommunal federation. Speaking at the annual general assembly of the Union of Displaced Communities of Famagusta held in Larnaca, Ioannou stated that “the primary goal and highest priority of the new government is the resumption of substantive negotiations aimed at resolving the Cyprus issue, freeing our country from occupation troops, foreign guarantees, and intervention rights, and restoring the unity of our homeland.” Ioannou added that “the Cyprus problem has always been and remains a problem of invasion and occupation’, noting that the inactivity observed and the lack of political will on the part of Turkey to reach a solution, ‘make it even more imperative that there is not a moment of complacency on our part.” Regarding the refugees, he said that the resolution of the long-standing problem of the state of refugee units is a priority, while high on the list is also the reevaluation of the criteria of housing plans for displaced persons, as well as the subsidy of rents, with the aim of implementing revised policies within 2023. Minister Ioannou noted that the refugee community has shouldered the greatest pain and has taken on a huge burden from the effects of the Turkish invasion. He welcomed the decisions taken by the Ministry, prior to his assumption of duties, regarding the associations of occupied communities of Famagusta, Keryneia, and Nicosia, which concern the establishment of an annual grant of pound 25,000 for each Association separately, in addition to the annual grant to each of the 137 communities to cover their operating expenses. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The last round of negotiations, in the summer of 2017, at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency