During an external CoR Bureau meeting held in Nicosia, Cyprus, EPP-CoR members strongly defended the territorial integrity of Cyprus and committed to keeping the issue of the occupation of Cyprus high on the political agenda.
Sari Rautio, President of the EPP-CoR Group strongly condemned Türkiye’s illegal occupation of Cyprus; the members of the EPP-CoR Group stand firmly with the Cypriot people, insisting on a comprehensive settlement within the framework of the United Nations and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, fully in line with EU law and principles.
During the CoR Conference of Presidents' exchange with Simos Ioannou, the mayor of the occupied city of Famagusta and Kyriakos Kareklas, President of the semi-occupied municipalities, the EPP-CoR stressed that confidence building measures promoted by local authorities can help facilitating the dialogue between communities, with contact between people being key to fostering mutual understanding and respect. Local authorities are exceptionally well placed to encourage inter-community dialogue, including the mayors of occupied towns and villages. "The occupation is not only wrong, but it severely complicates the everyday lives of the citizens. Building trust is needed everywhere, and local dialogues are a great tool for that" – Rautio added.
The EPP-CoR Group calls on the EU to send a strong message of solidarity to Cyprus by assuming a more active role in overcoming the current deadlock and resuming negotiations to end the occupation of Cyprus by Türkiye, and to reunify the island on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality.
Eleni Loucaidou, Head of the Cypriot National Delegation and Municipal Councillor of Nicosia, reaffirmed the importance of supporting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. She stressed the need for a firm commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue within the UN framework, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and rejects all proposals for a two-state solution, which would be contrary to international law and represent a blatant deviation from the agreed negotiation framework.
Earlier this year, Loukas Lingis, Municipal Councillor of Achna and EPP-CoR Young Elected Politician (YEP), shared how the Municipal Quarter of Achna organises an annual three-week event recreating refugee camps, including tents, communal kitchens, makeshift schools and churches. The initiative illustrates how Cypriot refugees found shelter in August 1974 following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.