The Commissioner for the Presidency, Mr Fotis Fotiou, met today in his office with the High Commissioner of Australia, Ms Fiona McKergow. The meeting took place in the framework of the briefing of foreign ambassadors and officials on issues related to his responsibilities. Welcoming Ms Fiona McKergow, the Commissioner expressed the thanks and appreciation of the Government and himself for Australia's long-standing participation and support to the UNFICYP peacekeeping missions in Cyprus, as well as for the financial support provided by Australia to the efforts to solve the problem of the missing persons.
Special reference was also made to the Cypriots of our diaspora in Australia, who constitute one of our largest and most organized communities abroad.
At the same time, Mr. Fotiou referred to the various actions undertaken in order to maintain the links of the Cypriots of our diaspora with their language, history, culture and roots.
The Commissioner then informed Ms. Fiona McKergow of the difficult situation that the efforts to solve the problem of the missing persons for the benefit of the suffering families have found themselves in, especially in recent years, due to the negative and intransigent policy pursued by the occupying power for the past 48 years.
It is unacceptable and inhumane, he stressed, that after 48 years there are more than 750 families of missing persons who are waiting to be informed about the fate of their loved ones, while too many other families are being handed over individual or scanty remains for burial. It is a tragic situation that causes so much pain and suffering to hundreds of families of our compatriots every day. At the same time, Fotiou said, it is a challenge to civilised humanity and to the principles and values that are the cornerstone of international law and human rights.
We expect, the Commissioner said, that the international community will take humanitarian initiatives and actions to curb the unacceptable and inhumane policies implemented by the occupying power. These are an obstacle to progress. In this context, we expect that Australia, because of its long-standing presence in peace missions in various countries of the world, but also because of the principles and values it stands for, will assist in these efforts.
(PM/MB)
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