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First of all, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year, with health, personal and family happiness and every success in the great work you are doing as the Pancyprian Refugee Association. Unfortunately, for yet another year, for more than half a century, our meeting takes place in the refugee camp, far from our beloved villages, without our beloved people.
For 50 years, the refugee world continues to experience the tragic consequences of the dark days of the summer of 1974. We are not deterred by the obstacles put up by the Turkish side for the resumption of negotiations with the ultimate aim of creating a fait accompli. For the Greek Cypriot side, the current situation in the Cyprus problem is not acceptable.
Since taking office, President Christodoulides has been working intensively, promoting initiatives that will create the conditions that will lead us to dialogue. Of great importance for the subsequent course of the Cyprus problem is the recent appointment of the UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy for Cyprus. In anticipation of the arrival of Ms. Queyar in Cyprus next week, I would like to assure you of the political will, determination and readiness of the President of the Republic to engage in a process of talks aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of an agreed framework and with respect for the principles of international and European law.
Friends,
The primary concern of the Nicos Christodoulides Government is to support the refugees. To this end, we have launched a series of actions within the framework of refugee policy, aimed at implementing a more effective policy to support displaced persons.
By way of example, following the tragic events of 1974 and the creation of the government-run IDP settlements to meet the housing needs of refugees, we are implementing the "BuildingZO" Project, the largest and most active intervention of the State, aimed at holistically addressing the problems in the 345 apartment buildings located in the refugee settlements. The implementation of this grandiose Plan, with a total cost of more than €130 million, is at a very advanced stage just a few months after its announcement, with the demolition of the first 20 blocks of flats having already begun, and the process of reconstruction of the first blocks of flats is expected to start in February.
Meanwhile, from 1 January 2024, the Government's decision to increase horizontally the rent allowances granted to displaced persons, survivors and other persons came into force. The purpose of the increase is to help beneficiaries meet their housing needs until they acquire owner-occupied housing. The increase was set at 15% for single persons, families and students and 25% for families of two. Under this Scheme, approximately 4,500 beneficiaries are subsidized annually with a total budget of €8.5 million.
In addition, the Ministry of Interior is implementing a package of measures aimed at institutionalizing procedures and introducing mechanisms for merit-based and sound management of Turkish Cypriot properties. Under the new procedure, available Turkish Cypriot properties and properties are published on the website of the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service, so that all interested refugees can claim them on the basis of common criteria. At the same time, checks are carried out on the lease contracts of Turkish Cypriot premises granted for commercial purposes and where we find a violation of the terms of the contract we proceed by taking measures to revoke the lease. At the same time we have dared to touch and find solutions to peculiar and chronic cases of Turkish Cypriot property management. Our aim is to ensure equality and transparency in the use of Turkish Cypriot properties for the benefit of the refugee world.
Dear friends,
What I have briefly mentioned above are only some of the actions to support the displaced. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Pancyprian Refugee Union for its long-standing contribution to mitigate the problems faced by the refugee world.
Allow me to congratulate all those we are honouring tonight, the active and tireless members of the Pancyprian Refugee Union, who with a high sense of solidarity have been at the side of our fellow human beings since the first steps of the Refugee Union. You are a point of reference for all of us and especially for the new generation, keeping the memory of our occupied land unquenched.
Your contribution to our work is equally valuable, through constructive proposals and suggestions and always focusing on the refugee world, which for 50 years has been experiencing the tragic consequences of the Turkish invasion. I am sure that our cooperation will continue until our return to our homeland in peace and prosperity.
(MKY)
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