Nicosia: The Cyprus problem cannot be seen as an isolated issue, but on the basis of broader developments, Parliament President, Annita Demetriou, said on Friday, noting that ‘we must not lose sight of the fact that both in our region and more broadly, large-scale conflicts are occurring that threaten stability throughout the world and remind us daily that there are no frozen conflicts.’
According to Cyprus News Agency, Demetriou emphasized during her speech at a book launch on the testimonies of prisoners of war in 1974, in Nicosia, that a viable solution to the Cyprus issue is essential for reuniting the island. She stated that only through such a solution can Cyprus face future challenges and risks and build a hopeful future. She further asserted that the only acceptable solution would be a ‘single and indivisible homeland in accordance with United Nations resolutions, international law, European principles and values, and legitimacy.’
Demetriou highlighted that Cyprus has the right and ability to create
conditions for becoming a pillar of peace, security, and stability in the entire region. She warned that the current situation in Cyprus, with its perpetuation of the status quo, introduces new risks daily. Therefore, she emphasized that the present situation cannot be an option for solving the Cyprus problem, nor can the two-state approach be considered a solution.
Referring to the book being launched, Demetriou described it as an opportunity to re-examine the events of 1974 and honor the Greek Cypriot prisoners of war, urging reflection on the past to do more for the future. She also addressed the relatives of missing persons, acknowledging their ongoing pain and stressing the duty to uncover the fate of each missing individual.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Despite repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks, no conclusive results have been achieved. The latest round of negotiations, held in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended without
a resolution.
Since 1974, the fate of hundreds of people remains unknown. A Committee on Missing Persons was established by agreement between the leaders of the two communities. Its purpose is to exhume, identify, and return the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.