The new illegal invasion of populations in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus is yet another illegal action by Turkey, which aims at the demographic alteration and alienation of Cyprus, Interior Minister Nikos Nouris said, adding that "the Turks, through the instrumentalization of migration, seek to cause economic, social, political, security and destabilization problems."
"Unfortunately," the Minister said, "the developments and what we experienced at yesterday's EU Internal Affairs Council in Brussels are disappointing, where the unwillingness of some Member States to promote for a vote in the European Parliament the Regulation on the instrumentalisation of the migration issue was demonstrated, a development that leaves once again, the perpetrator of the problem in Cyprus, Turkey, out of reach and away from any sanctions."
The Interior Minister said that he said at the Council the day before yesterday and he repeats it today that this development has affected European solidarity, noting that he hopes that with Cyprus' persistence and the support of the Member States that stand by it, there will soon be a review of positions and a reversal of this negative development.
In his speech at the National Memorial for the Heroes of Omorphita, Mr. Nouris also said that while for 48 years we have been experiencing the provocative effort of the neo-Sultans of Ankara to colonize the occupied part of our homeland, in recent months we have been witnessing yet another methodical and heinous crime, the quasi-colonization of the territories controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, through the daily, systematic and guided advancement of thousands of illegal immigrants through the Green Line".
He stressed that the government's irrevocable and irreversible goal is to find a just, viable and workable solution to our national problem, as defined in the relevant UN resolutions, in accordance with EU principles and values.
He stressed that despite the continuous efforts of the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, for the resumption of the negotiation process and despite taking initiatives to remove the deadlock in which the Cyprus problem has reached, Turkey continues with its revisionism to undermine the prospect of resuming the talks, adhering to its unacceptable and unreasonable demands.
The MFA said that Turkey, "in full agreement with the current representatives of the T/C community, systematically promotes the recognition of illegal fait accompli and the imposition of a two-state solution".
Speaking further on the national issue, Mr. Nouris said that "48 years after the crime committed against our homeland, there are still in the only EU member state 200 thousand refugees in their own homeland", as well as missing persons and internally displaced persons.
"This picture and this record are the daily dramatic reminder of the national tragedy and point us to the great debt for the liberation and reunification of our homeland. But they are also a dream for our great European family, whose values and principles in Cyprus are being trampled upon and humiliated by our conquerors," he said.
Referring to the sacrifice of the residents and missing persons of Omorphita, he said that "today's memorial service reminds us of our own unfulfilled debt to the heroic fallen, but also to all those who sacrificed for the freedom of our homeland", to note that "at the same time it also makes us co-responsible to continue united and united in the struggle for freedom, reunification and prosperity of our country".
Mr. Nouris said that "commemorations such as today's dictate us to fight steadfastly and unyieldingly to safeguard the future of Cypriot Hellenism in the land of our ancestors."
"Our land is occupied, but our memories are not. In the haze created in our Cyprus by the Turkish occupation and the arrogant intransigence of Ankara, the necessity for national responsibility and a conciliatory spirit emerges as never before. It is time to wake up and realize, both those in government and in opposition, that the homeland is one and the enemy is not complacent," he said.
He expressed the belief that political disputes, electoral considerations and party interests must be put aside, so that we can collectively look at the problems under the lens of unity and unanimity.
Source: CNA
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