Kaimakli:Officials attended a series of memorial services on Sunday to honor those who fell during the 1974 Turkish invasion, missing persons, and EOKA fighters. During these events, they conveyed the Government's determination to continue efforts towards a solution for the Cyprus problem.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Marinos Mousiouttas emphasized at the annual memorial service in Kaimakli that the island's partition "cannot and will never be accepted." He highlighted a period of intense diplomatic activity, referencing United Nations Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres' visit to Cyprus, President Nikos Christodoulides' meetings with the Turkish Cypriot leader, and recent discussions in New York. These efforts aim to create conditions for resuming negotiations from where they left off in 2017, centered on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as per UN resolutions. Mousiouttas stressed that political will from Ankara is necessary.
Minister of Health Neophytos Charalambides, speaking in Limassol, urged against accepting the division of Cyprus and called for unity and commitment to justice in efforts to end the occupation. Highlighting the example of EOKA hero Evangelou, he underscored the importance of national service and unity despite challenges.
Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Christos Senekis reiterated the need to resume negotiations from the previous basis, emphasizing that time does not erase the invasion's consequences or make partition permanent. Speaking at a service in Frenaros, he confirmed President Christodoulides' Government's continued efforts to break the deadlock and resume negotiations.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 after Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third. UN-led peace talks have repeatedly failed due to Turkish intransigence, with the last negotiations in 2017 ending without resolution. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced plans for another meeting in a broader format, with ongoing efforts by his Personal Envoy Mara Angela Holgun and European Commission Special Representative Raffaele Fitto to engage the parties.