Ankara must recognise that the influx of illegal settlers from Turkey to Cyprus’ northern occupied areas is a war crime, House President and Acting President of the Republic Marios Garoyian has stressed, pointing out that once this is acknowledged, Cyprus would be ready to discuss the possibility of Turkish settlers remaining in Cyprus, on humanitarian grounds.
Asked after signing the condolences book for the death of Cuban politician Juan Almeida Bosque, whether the issue of illegal settlers is still on the negotiating table, Garoyian said the objective is not to have settlers after the solution of the Cyprus problem.
“Turkey must, first of all, accept that illegal colonisation is a war crime and once this is done, we are ready to discuss – not accept – the stay of settlers on humanitarian grounds,” he stressed.
He said that this message has to be communicated abroad and the matter has to be pointed out at the current UN-led negotiations.
“We have to be firm in our positions and the messages we convey, to be effective in our effort to see pressure exerted on Turkey to relinquish its long-standing intransigent stance,” he added.
Replying to questions, Garoyian said “the President correctly reiterates issues of principle, that the key to a Cyprus settlement lies in Ankara and that is where pressure must be exerted and that the might of the powerful as well as illegality do not represent justice.”
Referring to Juan Almeida Bosque, Garoyian described him as a major personality of Cuba, who was engaged in the struggle of the Cuban people for freedom and justice and whose views and ideas have inspired the Cuban people as well as other peoples.
Garoyian expressed his sincere condolences and the condolences of the House of Representatives to Bosque’s family as well as to the Cuban people and government.
The National Council (top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus question) said on Friday after a meeting which lasted for days that the settlement of the Cyprus problem must provide for the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops and illegal settlers.
President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008, with a view to solve the problem of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974.
