Nicosia, Cyprus. House President Annita Demetriou called for unity among Greek Cypriots to help secure a solution to the Cyprus problem during an extraordinary parliamentary session marking the anniversary of the 1974 Greek junta-backed coup d’état.
She said the Greek Cypriot side should work constructively to break the deadlock and resume substantive negotiations within the United Nations framework.
Commemoration and occupation
After the House observed a minute of silence, Demetriou said forgetting was not an option while Cyprus continued to face what she described as the consequences of betrayal and occupation.
She said Turkey had for 52 years implemented a policy of settlement in the occupied territories aimed at altering demographics, place names, and the cultural and religious character of the area, while attempting to change the status of Varosha and the buffer zone.
Negotiation framework
Demetriou said adherence to international law, the Republic of Cyprus’ status as a European Union member state, and the United Nations framework were key to reversing the consequences of occupation.
Referring to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ initiative to resume negotiations, she said the effort should neither be underestimated nor ignored. She warned that a lack of progress in the coming months could create uncertainty, as Guterres’ term is due to expire at the end of the year.
European role
She said Turkey’s European partners should make clear that it could not make demands of the European Union without substantial progress on the Cyprus issue, adding that this should be a common position for Greece and Cyprus.
Demetriou welcomed the appointment of Raffaele Fitto as the EU’s envoy in Cyprus, saying the European presence added momentum to the new UN effort.
Call for preparation
Demetriou said the Greek Cypriot side was ready for a new effort to find a solution based on UN Security Council resolutions and EU principles and values.
She said one sovereignty, one citizenship and one international personality were non-negotiable principles, and called for unity, unanimity and serious preparation ahead of expected developments on the Cyprus problem.
