Involving overseas Cypriots in the search for a solution

THE POSSIBILITY of a specific action plan to involve overseas’ Cypriots in seeking a resolution to the Cyprus problem was discussed yesterday at the annual conference of their co-ordinating committee.

Addressing the conference yesterday, Foreign Minister George Lillikas said overseas Cypriots were informed on local issues on a regular basis, “in order to develop a common action plan, which is in harmony with the government’s goals on matters that concern us, but also to adjust it with each country in which we have emigrant organisations”.

Asked what the government was expecting from overseas Cypriots in terms of assisting developments in the Cyprus issue, he said “specific matters” would be discussed with the co-ordinating committee when the time came.

“The information is given to a very detailed degree and discussion takes place over specific actions that will be taken in each country,” Lillikas explained. “The actions vary depending on the peculiarities of each country, but also on the significance of the country or our federations’ abilities.”

He concluded, “This is why we cannot project a general plan regarding the local matters of the Cyprus problem, such as the significance of the implementation of the July 8 agreement; such as the attempts made by Turkey to upgrade the pseudostate and of course other matters regarding settlement and illegal exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied north;, on the issue, we will examine specific actions that can be taken.”

The Co-ordinated Committee of Overseas Cypriots had earlier been given a general update on developments in the Cyprus problem by House President Demetris Christofias.

Christofias blamed the current deadlock in the Cyprus problem on Turkey, which he said “is obstructing the realisation of the July 8 agreement”.

According to an official announcement, the House President also referred to the efforts being made by the government and Parliament, as well as international bodies, to find a resolution to the island’s division.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.