The problems faced by the citizens of Famagusta and the Municipality of Famagusta in general were discussed, among others, by the Parliamentary Committee for Refugees - Internally Displaced Persons - Internally Displaced Persons with the Mayor and Members of the Famagusta Municipal Council, in a meeting at the Parliament today.
In his statements after the meeting, the Mayor of Famagusta Dr. Simos Ioannou said that they informed the Refugee Committee of the Parliament about the problems faced by the citizens of Famagusta and the Municipality of Famagusta in general.
"There has been a very good discussion concerning various issues, such as the issue of promoting Famagusta abroad and the help we are asking for from the Refugee Committee of the Parliament."
"There has been a very good discussion concerning various issues, such as the issue of promoting Famagusta abroad and the help we are asking for from the Refugee Committee of the Parliament. The refugee problems that the people of Famagusta are facing. The issue of equal burden sharing, the perennial issue of relocation of the Municipality, which seems to have not yet been resolved. We have seen a full understanding from the Refugee Committee," he added.
He said, in addition, they have decided that they will send a note, a report on their activities and what they want in terms of promoting the Famagusta issue so that the MPs can also help them with the various contacts they will have abroad, as well as a note regarding the relocation of the Municipality.
"I think such meetings are very helpful and we hope they will continue in the future. I think that especially the Refugee Committee of the Parliament is the Committee with which we have a special relationship as a Municipality and I believe that not only this meeting today but other meetings will continue in the future for various other issues, which will arise regarding the problems of the refugee world in general and especially the citizens of Famagusta," he added.
Asked whether his appeals for the people of Famagusta not to appeal to the so-called "compensation committee" of the Pseudo-state were heeded, the Famagusta mayor said they do not know.
"It is an issue that concerns everyone individually. We have a clear position on the problems, which will arise from this appeal to the 'property committee'. We know very well what this 'property committee' offers. I have said it many times: If they really wanted to give the people of Famagusta a chance to return to their town, they did not need this process of intermediate involvement of the "property committee", which has nothing to do with return. There could have been other procedures until the final resolution of the Cyprus problem. They have now involved the various EBKAFs, various foundations, to make this position more difficult," he added.
The Famagusta Mayor said that we simply have the obligation to point out to our fellow citizens the problems that will arise.
"From there on, I say it again, it is everyone's constitutional right to appeal. And the main reason, which they appeal, I said it and we discussed it today and we found understanding, is the problems, the financial problems, the other problems that the refugees are facing and they are forced to reach this point. That is why we said that solutions must be found. There is this law, which was approved a year ago with the 4 percent, which was supposed to be given to this fund from various other construction work, which still has not been done. It's 16 million, as the Chairman of the Committee mentioned to us. It is not a lot of money, but it can help people refugees in very difficult situations, in illnesses, in studies, a refugee who is in a very difficult situation," he added.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Refugees - Internally Displaced Persons - Victims , Nikos Ketteros, said in a statement that during the meeting they discussed issues concerning Famagusta residents and the Municipality of Famagusta.
"I must tell you that from today's contact that we had with the Mayor and members of the Famagusta Municipal Council, but also with the Famagusta residents that we come in contact with on a daily basis, we feel, we feel, we receive the feeling of frustration and anger that all Famagusta residents feel about the situation that continues to prevail in recent years. Many people are forced and I stress the word forced to resort, unfortunately, to the so-called 'compensation committee'. We see people in the refugee settlements losing their homes, being forced to stop their children's studies. Living in miserable conditions in refugee settlements and self-housing settlements and the state is absent," he added.
As Kettiros said, "we should only remember the compensation for loss of use of some, only when it is election season."
"But to have legislation passed, such as that of the compensation of the 4 percent tax on property sales in free areas and not implemented because the state has been skimping in the last year. Sixteen million could have been collected and made available for these people who are most in need."
Very soon, Mr. Kettiros, they will again have the issue of how to apply the 0.4% legislation to the Refugee Commission, as well as other issues concerning compensation for loss of use and "exploitation" for this world of Turkish Cypriot properties, which is an issue "that whenever we enter the word scandal is the first thing we remember."
"There should be a rational management of the Turkish Cypriot properties and somehow it should be linked to the loss of use with certain measurable criteria. We have demanded this and we will continue to demand it."
He also said that they have asked the Famagusta Municipal Council to prepare in the near future, very soon, a briefing note to be made available to the MPs, who participate in European and international organizations, concerning the issue of information on the problem of Famagusta, on the issue of colonization and the settlements that Turkey is making.
"We will give this note to all our fellow MPs so that they can inform all the international bodies in which they participate.
He also said that they discussed the issue concerning the housing of Famagusta Municipality.
"You know, four times a decision has been taken to house Famagusta Municipality and some invisible hand cancels this decision every time. The last decision was for housing on a plot in Upper Polemidia. It seems that again this invisible hand has intervened and is again creating problems. We will not tolerate this situation any longer. They should be proud of any Local Authority that may host the Famagusta Municipality, because if it were not for the Famagustians in these areas, everyone can understand where the property values would be," he added. Kettiros, the Municipality of Famagusta will prepare a briefing for them in writing and the Refugee Committee will come back in a meeting of the Refugee Committee to examine this issue exclusively.
"I would like to stress the support of all members of the Refugee Committee for the actions taken by the Mayor and the members of the Famagusta Municipal Council.
"I would like to stress the support of all members of the Refugee Committee for the actions taken by the Mayor and the members of the Famagusta Municipal Council. We stand by them. We are with them. Many of the members of the Committee are also citizens of Famagusta Municipality and in any case, we will support any actions and efforts they make," he added.
DISY MP Giorgos Karoullas, in his statements said that "we support and support every effort of the Municipality of Famagusta and Famagusta residents in general, in the work of return in every possible way."
"We live and experience the anger and indignation of both the Municipality of Famagusta and every Ammochastrian who sees the city, Famagusta, Vassiliou, being lost through the colonization tactics of the Turkish conqueror. At the same time, the Government is urgently raising the issue of handing over Famagusta to its legitimate inhabitants through the Confidence Building Measures it is putting before international political bodies, despite the unfavorable international political scene, with the aim of returning to the natural space of Famagusta, the creation of the Famagusta people," he added.
Also, Karoullas continued, there is a need "for all of us to rally and cooperate not only for the return, but also for the management of the issue of equal burden sharing."
"At a time when many, many, many Famagusta residents are suffering because of their economic situation."
"At a time when many, many Famagusta residents are suffering because of their economic situation."
"At a time when many, many Famagusta residents are suffering because of their economic situation. And to inform, at the same time, about the dangers of recourse to the "compensation committee" of the occupied territories with every respect for the right to private property," he noted.
The issue also of relocating the Municipality, Karoullas said, to functional buildings is crucial and needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
"Already the Government has granted land to Famagusta Municipality and financial assistance and this issue is being settled. We are here as the Refugee Committee to monitor the whole issue which is finally on its way to implementation. It is also important to recognize the need to build the social fabric of the city, considering that generations are passing away and the new generation must have a direct link with the city," he added.
DIKO MP Christos Seneces, in a statement said that in today's meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, Missing Persons and Victims, they had the opportunity to be informed about the actions of Famagusta Municipality.
"Among others, the appeal to the so-called Property Committee in the occupied territories and the so-called return under occupation administration were highlighted. We understand the anger of the Famagusta people, but that anger should not lead us to actions that will be the tombstone of the return of Famagusta and the overall settlement of the Cyprus problem. The so-called return under occupation administration is a flagrant violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, which provide for the return of the city of Famagusta to its rightful inhabitants under the administration of the United Nations," he added. Senekis, "and if anyone attempts to claim a return under occupation administration to the so-called Real Estate Commission in the occupied territories, he will be confronted with the EBKAF, on the basis of "decisions" of the so-called Famagusta District Court, according to which more than 90% of the properties in the enclosed area of Famagusta city belong to the EBKAF."
"Moreover, who can guarantee the behaviour of the occupation authorities towards those who will return under occupation administration? We recall the Third Vienna Agreement of 1975, which was made under the auspices of the United Nations and provided for the respect of the rights of the more than 14,000 Carpathian internees. With the general behaviour of the occupying authorities today there are only a few hundred left. Why should we assume that the attitude of the occupation authorities will be different in the case of Famagusta city?" he added. Senekis said, in addition, that because the individual right of each person to decide whether to seek their return under occupation is invoked, "we should note that the preamble to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union states that the enjoyment of rights entails responsibilities and duties towards third parties as well as towards the human community and future generations."
"The only way to alleviate the dilemma faced by the refugees is for the state to stand by to partially address the long-standing loss of occupied properties and the resulting economic hardship. To this end, as DIKO, we have prepared relevant legislation that will strengthen the State's toolkit with compensation for the loss of use of occupied properties. We are waiting for the views of other political forces to be submitted jointly," he concluded.
Source: CNA
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