The role that Cypriot expatriates can play, particularly in the Cyprus problem, is “of great importance”, the President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, said on Tuesday evening in her speech at the opening ceremony of the World Conference of Cyprus Diaspora, taking place this week in Nicosia. Demetriou noted that the Cypriot expatriates are “the best vehicle for promoting our national issue” in decision-making centres abroad. She said that expatriates act as “bridges” between their countries of residence and the homeland, enhancing cultural exchanges, promoting tourism and attracting foreign investment, as Cyprus is promoted abroad as an attractive destination and a model of financial stability. She also noted that expatriates are the best ambassadors of Cyprus abroad and that the state should cooperate closely with the expatriate communities in order to keep open and expand communication channels even more. She noted that, “unfortunately”, this year’s conference is again taking place in the last divided capital in the world. “For almost half a century, Turkey has continued to commit crimes against Cyprus, in flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions and international law,” she said, adding that, alongside the occupation and settlement of the northern part of Cyprus, “it continues unabated in its criminal destruction of our cultural heritage and the looting of our archaeological treasures.” At the same time, she added, Ankara and the occupying authorities are openly promoting a solution of two separate sovereign states. She added that the occupying regime, ignoring the reactions of the international community and the European Union, did not even hesitate to move against the UN peacekeeping force in a show of intransigence. Demetriou said that the role that expatriates can play, “especially in the Cyprus problem, is of great importance.” Demetriou noted that they have already conveyed the support of the Parliament and that they support and strengthen the voice of expatriates and assured them that the House of Representatives, will always be of assistance in any initiative and action they undertake. 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. Members of the Security Council condemned on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, the incidents in the buffer zone, in the village of Pyla, in Larnaca district, with assaults against UN peacekeepers, reiterating their full support for UNFICYP. They also condemned the attacks on UN peacekeepers and the damage to UN vehicles by Turkish Cypriot personnel and wished a speedy and full recovery to the peacekeepers who were injured. They emphasised that “attacks against peacekeepers may constitute crimes under international law and reaffirmed their full commitment to the safety of all UN personnel.” On Friday August 18, 2023 Turkish Cypriots punched and kicked a group of international peacekeepers who obstructed crews illegally working on a road that would encroach on a U.N. controlled buffer zone. The attack happened as peacekeepers stood in the way of crews building a road to connect the Turkish occupied village of Arsos with the mixed Greek Cypriot-Turkish Cypriot village of Pyla, inside the buffer zone.

Source: Cyprus News Agency