-
.
- Ελληνικά
Suggestions and concerns were raised to the Minister of Interior Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou by the President Mr. Michael Tziortas and members of the Committee of Occupied Communities at their meeting today. They discussed ways to promote changes on the issue of enlightenment, with the aim of coordinated promotion of the national issue.
The Minister of Interior met this morning, at the Ministry of Interior, with the President and representatives of the Committee of Occupied Communities.
The Chairman, Mr Michalis Tziortas, on behalf of the Union of Occupied Communities of Famagusta, Nicosia and Kyrenia, referred to the problems faced by the refugee population as a result of the invasion and occupation. He then made suggestions so that the Committee of Occupied Communities can be better represented in organized groups or Committees in Cyprus and abroad, but also to better promote issues concerning refugees. He also raised the Commission's concerns about the distortions in the management of Turkish Cypriot properties.
During the meeting, the Minister and the Commission discussed the issue of the loss of use of occupied properties. It is an issue that falls within the priorities of the Christodoulides Government, the Minister of Interior pointed out, noting that in the context of equal burden sharing among refugees, the Ministry is promoting various horizontal actions.
He informed that for the Ministry of Interior the primary objective was the chronic issue of the refugee settlements, which was wheeled through the "KtiZO" project. As he added, it was an issue that required an immediate and definitive solution, on the one hand, to safeguard their security and, on the other hand, to provide them with decent housing. He added, moreover, that the housing policy, which is currently in the planning stage, would also be able to cover the portion of refugees facing housing problems.
With regard to the management of Turkish Cypriot properties, he informed that he had recently issued instructions to streamline the practice followed, with a view to meritocracy and transparency. In this context, the Minister pointed out that teams have already started carrying out inspections of Turkish Cypriot business premises and agricultural parcels, with the cooperation of the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation (CAPO). The aim is to monitor cases of mismanagement and record any irregularities of subletting or other irregularities, Mr Ioannou said, adding that the collection of overdue rent arrears is also proceeding.
These measures are being taken in anticipation of the launched plan of actions to modernize the management of Turkish Cypriot properties, as well as the completion of the legislative and technical review of the draft law on the revision of the criteria for granting Turkish Cypriot properties, the Interior Minister explained.
On enlightenment, the Minister praised the important role played by the Occupied Communities in raising the national issue. He noted that there is a need for a unified and coherent policy in this field, and suggested that, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Press and Information Office, a coordinated planning for actions to promote our national issue both at home - targeting the younger generations - and abroad.
After thanking the Committee of Occupied Communities for the important work they perform, he reaffirmed the support of himself and the Government of Nicos Christodoulides for the occupied communities and the refugee world.
(EFYs/EP)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
