Experts to check if Pontians are really Greek

INTERIOR Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou said yesterday that four groups of Greek government officials were expected on the island within the next two to three weeks to resolve the issue of the origin of a large number of Pontian Greeks living on the island.

According to a February 2000 census, there are around 3,500 Pontians – ethnic Greeks from the Black Sea – living on the island.

The government, however, decided to look into the origin of many Pontians after it emerged in the census that many did not actually have Greek nationality.

“The matter will be settled by May or June,” Christodoulou said.

He told reporters that the government had decided to provide incentives to Pontians concerning house rental, aiming primarily in decongesting overcrowded areas and eradicating so-called ghettos, especially in Paphos.

The issue of the acquisition of homes by Pontians would be examined together with the matter of settlement of origin, Christodoulou said.

Commenting on information from the Russian embassy that Chechens were living on the island using forged passports, Christodoulou said that the matter was being investigated by the island’s authorities.

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