The President of the Republic is working intensively, promoting initiatives that will create the conditions that will lead us to dialogue on the Cyprus problem, Minister of the Interior Konstantinos Ioannou said on Tuesday during a speech at an event of the Pancyprian Refugee Union. At the same time, he said the primary concern of the Christodoulides government is to support refugees.

In his speech, the Interior Minister said that for the Greek Cypriot side, the current situation in the Cyprus problem is unacceptable. “Since taking over the government of the country, President (Nikos) Christodoulides has been working intensively, promoting initiatives that will create the conditions that will lead us to dialogue,” he said.

Ioannou noted that the recent appointment of the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy for the Cyprus problem is of great importance for the subsequent course of the Cyprus problem.

He assured of “the President of the Republic of Cyprus’ political will, determination and readiness to engage in a process of talks, with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of an agreed framework and with respect for the principles of International and European Law”.

Noting that the primary concern of the Christodoulides government is to support refugees, Ioannou said that in this direction, a series of actions have been launched in the framework of the refugee policy, aiming to implement a more effective policy to support displaced persons.

In his speech, the President of the Pancyprian Refugee Union, George Lysandrides, said that the Union expects “from the Government, as noted in the President’s pre-election programme, the start of the implementation of a comprehensive refugee policy, including those who have not received any support so far. We also look forward to the promotion of proportional compensation to owners for the loss of use of their occupied properties”, he added.

He stressed that the Union will not allow “the unhindered seizure of our churches, monuments and cemeteries, the rampant and illegal actions of Turkey and especially the usurpation of our properties”, stressing that immediate measures to stop and prevent this should be implemented.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.