The Council of Europe (CoE) Committee of Ministers decided on Thursday not to terminate the supervision of the aspect of the property issue in the framework of the Fourth Interstate of Cyprus against Turkey. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said that four countries were last year in favour of terminating the supervision and Nicosia managed to prevent this through an intense and coordinated effort, with the contribution of the Republic’s Law Office. According to CNA information, the four countries are Germany, Switzerland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. In statements in New York, Kombos noted that the CoE Committee of Ministers finally decided not to end the supervision of the case, noting that there was a proposal by the Secretariat to close it. He underlined that “after an intense and coordinated effort with the valuable contribution of the Law Office we ensured that the case will be supervised during the next year and managed to change the stance of four states.” Replying to a question, Kombos said that Nicosia’s arguments were both legal and political, adding that at the political level they consider that the message that must be sent is that the effort for the exploitation of properties in the Turkish occupied areas must end. The Foreign Minister also said that the aspect of the missing persons issue is still pending and will be examined in spring during a similar procedure, while the aspect of the property issue will be re-examined next year. He added that the effort is for the supervision for the missing persons issue to continue and that they have begun to work towards this direction. “This is an important issue for us. It concerns the humanitarian aspect and we will continue to press and work with a view to maintain the supervision of this aspect as well and this has symbolic importance but is also important as a political message,” he noted. Kombos said that in the framework of the UN General Assembly he had a series of meeting with countries of Africa and Asia with which there are prospects to strengthen relations and with countries that participate in the Islamic Conference, the Organization of Turkic States, as well as the Commonwealth. Moreover, he noted that focus was given to meetings with European countries which are not EU member states but have EU aspirations or have trade relations with the EU, which we want them to maintain and develop. Kombos said that he also participated in a series of thematic meetings, on issues such as the strengthening of the International Criminal Court jurisdiction and the Middle East peace process, while he attended a dinner hosted by the US Secretary State on transatlantic relations, as well as the EU Informal Council. He also noted that a Trilateral meeting of the FMs of Cyprus, Greece and Israel took place in New York, while on Friday Trilateral meetings of the Foreign Ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt and of Cyprus, Greece and Jordan will take place. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
Source: Cyprus News Agency