In his statements after the meeting, the Chairman of the Committee, AKEL MP Nikos Ketteros, said that this proposal sets the general framework within which the state must move to prepare a specific plan, which recognises the unequal distribution of burdens and supports the owners of occupied properties.
"Unfortunately, it seems that not all of us are concerned with the issue of compensation for loss of use for occupied properties with the same zeal. The proposed law has been submitted before the plenary of the Parliament for a month, but today the Ministry of Interior asked for time to consider it. It is the same people who, when the elections are approaching, daily promise heaven and stars to the refugees until the next election day, who forget everything. Today, when there is a concrete proposal, they are asking for time," said the AKEL MP.
Mr. Kettiros went on to say that the Refugee Committee still discussed a proposal for a law, which gives the possibility for holders of leasing certificates to proceed with soft developments after relevant and necessary planning permissions in self-housing settlements built on Turkish Cypriot land. "Our concern and concern is also the coverage of those displaced persons who are beneficiaries of tenancy certificates, namely refugees, who for 30 or 40 years due to delays by the state and not due to the refugees themselves have been exposed without certificates," he added.
Finally, the committee discussed the problems faced by displaced residents in the refugee block of flats on Piale Pasha in Larnaca. "Arbitrariness, lack of serious maintenance and the age of the building have created a difficult situation for the elderly residents of the block of flats. As we have been informed, the Municipality of Larnaca has included the landscaping of the refugee apartment building in a wider planning of the municipality, proceeding with external repairs and the removal of all arbitrary and illegal constructions," said Kettiros. He added that with regard to the timetable for the work, "by June, bids will be awarded and immediately after the summer work will begin to repair the damage and problems externally, while the possibility of repairing the damage inside the apartments will be explored."
DISY MP Rita Theodorou Souperma[/B]n stressed for her part that "we are not talking about compensation, because our properties are still occupied and we hope that one day we will get them back. We are talking about compensation which will be given to property owners with the aim first of all to achieve the connectivity of the owners and their heirs with their properties in the occupied territories and as a deterrent measure, so that people do not come to the Occupation Committee to sell their properties."
"The most important thing is that it will help preserve the memory of the occupied territories, because someone who receives a sum of money per year, the second and third generation refugees will wonder where this property is, it is in the occupied territories, these territories are ours," he added.
Superman noted that the issue is quite complex, especially 50 years later, and mainly concerns the finances of the state, so support to the executive is crucial, and stressed that the refugee organizations present welcomed with satisfaction the initiative of the Refugee Committee and expressed unequivocally the frustration of the refugee world at the absence of refugee policy beyond housing for more than 47 years. "We await the position of the Ministries of Interior and Finance and hope it will be positive," he concluded.
DPA MP Michalis Yiakoumi said "fully disappointed as an MP for Famagusta and as a refugee by the non-existence of a comprehensive refugee policy by all governments without exception and the state as a whole. The refugee policy was limited only to refugee housing policies and at will, resulting in the creation of many types of refugees."
Yakoomi said that this particular legislative proposal aims "to wake up the state, by extension the government, to finally look the refugee world in the eye and finally bring a serious proposal for an integrated refugee policy."
Yakoomi said that this particular legislative proposal aims "to wake up the state, by extension the government, to finally look the refugee world in the eye and finally bring a serious proposal for an integrated refugee policy.
"The law proposal has a double character, apart from the moral aspect there is also the economic aspect since it will prevent the poor refugee world from going to the so-called compensation commission for a more dignified living. We demand the government to bring the framework for a comprehensive refugee policy and based on timetables to move towards the implementation of the target set by the committee," he added on the issue.
Source: CNA
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