We do not cease to act in every way to ensure the rights of the legitimate residents of the enclosed city of Famagusta and other areas, President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades said today.
In his statements to reporters in Limassol, and when asked, he said that "from the very beginning of the announcement by the Turkish authorities and their settler Mr Tatar about the invitation to resettle the residents, owners of the properties in the enclosed area, we had warned that this was a matter of urgency. Hence the small area, the so-called pilot area, which after it was determined that it did not fall within the area where EFKAB was illegally claiming ownership was given as a first measure, as a lure to attract Greek Cypriots to appeal to the Committee.
The acceptance of EFKAB as an interested party is but a reaffirmation of a decision issued earlier which held that EFKAB has ownership of the areas it claims in the enclosed area. Therefore caution is needed, despite sirens to the contrary today those who called and insisted for the legal occupants to appeal to a commission for alleged compensation or restitution of ownership of their properties are being disproved."
Asked whether the Government is concerned about this situation, he said that "because we are concerned, we do not cease to act in every way to safeguard the rights first of all of those covered by Resolutions 550 and 789 i.e. the owners and legal residents of the enclosed city and not only the enclosed city but also the other areas. We are taking initiatives and we will continue to insist through the diplomatic channel to get justice."
Asked about the issue of appointing a special envoy of the UN Secretary General, the President said that "there is nothing new. You are well aware that we had accepted the position of the Secretary General, the refusal of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots also demonstrates who is responsible for the lack of dialogue, the wreckage of the talks from time to time. I hope that the efforts we are making will come to fruition."
He added that the terms of reference to be given should be such as to finally allow the creation of a climate or conditions for the resumption of dialogue so that a dialogue can finally resume that will lead us to a workable, viable solution always on the basis of the Summit Agreements and UN resolutions.
Asked what his next steps will be, the President said that "it will be to present a comprehensive proposal to the European Council on the need for Europe to take initiatives both for the solution of the Cyprus problem and for the adoption of a substantive MoU that will firstly restore real confidence and secondly pave the way for a new creative dialogue".
In response to a journalist's remark that communities in the Limassol district are requesting assistance through an extraordinary allowance for altitude, the President said that "the request is being examined, it seems that indeed, based on the objective criteria as set, some injustices are being created. Asked about the issue of the Limassol stadium, the President said that "the assurances I had until yesterday from the construction company is that by June - July, the stadium will be delivered, the first phase of the road network will be completed and I hope that we will be happy and all of Cyprus will be happy for a jewel of a stadium for the city and for Cyprus."
Asked about the Limassol stadium, the President said that "the assurances I had until yesterday from the construction company is that by June - July, the stadium will be delivered, the first phase of the road network will be completed and I hope that we will be happy and all of Cyprus will be happy for a jewel of a stadium for the city and for Cyprus.
Asked about the Tsireios Stadium, the President said that "since 2014, relevant funds have been allocated so that such interventions can be made to ensure both the stadium's stability and functionality. I have repeatedly addressed the respective Boards of the stadium. They have just recently completed the notorious studies, I hope that soon when there will be a meeting at the Presidential Palace within the next ten days, there will finally be a logic on the part of the management of the Tsirio, so that we can move forward to transform it into a stadium for both football and sports.
(PM/NG)
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