We will continue the fight to return to occupied Famagusta, honoring Alexis Galanos who for 13 years, served as Mayor of the city, said today the Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Famagusta Chrysanthos Zannettos.
The statements were made during an event held at the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Famagusta in Deryneia, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the illegal occupation and continued occupation of the city of Famagusta by Turkish troops.
The Municipal Council of Famagusta held an extraordinary plenary session and in his statements the Deputy Mayor of Famagusta said that “today, August 14, the Municipal Council of Famagusta pays tribute to all those who left during the 2nd phase of the Turkish invasion but also to all they left life with the desire to return ".
He added that "it is a very difficult day for all the people of Famagusta, a day when everyone remembers the memories of that frothy day when they were forced to leave their homes and possessions with the desire to return. "In fact, they left believing that they would return in a few hours or a few days, and these days are now 45 years," he said.
Answering a relevant question, Mr. Zannettos said that the untimely death of Alexis Galanos "is an event that makes the day even more difficult for us. It is the first time that such a day we meet in this anniversary session without our Mayor and this creates additional weight in the whole climate "he said and added that" life goes on, in a few days we will have a new Mayor and we will continue our struggle always honoring and Alexis Galanos who for almost 13 years served the Municipality of Famagusta as Mayor ".
A resolution was adopted at the meeting, which will be delivered to the embassies of the five permanent members of the Security Council and to the representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus.
During the extraordinary session of the Municipal Council, the details of the anti-occupation event of the Municipality of Famagusta were discussed, which will take place this year on September 14, at the Cultural Center of the Municipality in Deryneia, with the President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiadis as keynote speaker.
The session was preceded by a trinity by the Metropolitan of Constantia - Famagusta Vassilios and the laying of wreaths. Wreaths were laid by Metropolitan Vassilios and Famagusta Mayor Chrysanthos Zannettos on behalf of the Municipal Council.
The Metropolitan of Constantia - Famagusta wished "a short settlement of the issue so that we can return to our occupied city and to our entire homeland."
Read also: The shocking testimony of Metropolitan Vassilios for the occupation of Famagusta (VIDEO)
At the same time he revealed that “On August 15, 1974, I left the Monastery of the Apostle Barnabas and walked a distance of two kilometers to Engomi, Famagusta, to find a way to remove all the fathers who were in the Monastery. A soldier took me from Engomi, I passed through Famagusta and we ended up in Ormidia ".
He also mentioned that “that memory that still hurts, since Famagusta that I knew and lived pulsating with life, I saw it a dead city. This memory is still very strong inside us and that is why we hope that God will help us to come back again and start the opposite course ".
In response, Chrysanthos Zannettos wished that "the way will soon be reopened for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem and the return of all legal residents of Famagusta to their homes and properties."
The Cyprus issue at its most critical turning point, according to a resolution of the Municipal Council of Famagusta
The Cyprus issue is still at the most critical juncture in its history and time and prolonged stagnation are proving factors that lead to the gradual integration of the occupied territories with Turkey and finally to the final division, the Famagusta Municipal Council resolution states, among other things.
The resolution was approved today during an extraordinary plenary session of the House held at the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Famagusta in Deryneia, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the illegal occupation and continued occupation of the city of Famagusta by Turkish troops.
Specifically, the resolution "reaffirms its firm position in favor of finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of a Biconical, Bicommunal Federation, with political equality of the two communities, as defined by the relevant UN resolutions and which provides for a state with one sovereignty, one international personality and one citizenship. A solution that will free Cyprus from occupation and settlement, reunite our homeland and our people, restore and guarantee the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots and which will allow us to return to our beloved city ”.
He also "unreservedly supports the resumption of talks under the auspices of the UN, considering that this process is the only way to a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem." He considers the result of the meeting of the two leaders dated August 9, 2019 as positive and looks forward to the resumption of the dialogue under the auspices of the UN Secretary General, without delay, with the aim of reaching an agreed solution to the problem ".
The resolution also stressed that "the issue of the return of Famagusta, a European-historic city which Turkey has held hostage since 1974, is primarily humanitarian and as such should be treated separately as a matter of the highest priority provided for in paragraph 5. of the Kyprianou-Denktash High Level Agreement of 19 May 1979 ”.
At the same time, he considers that "the Cyprus issue is still at the most critical juncture in its history and points out that time and prolonged stagnation prove to be factors leading to the gradual integration of the occupiers with Turkey and finally to the final division, with extremely dangerous consequences for the whole Cypriot people. It also unequivocally states that it opposes any actions that directly or indirectly tend to perpetuate and legitimize the current unacceptable and destructive status quo and do not contribute to the elimination of the occupation and the reunification of our homeland. "
The Municipal Council of Famagusta in its resolution also considers that “both the illegal actions of Turkey within the Cypriot EEZ, as well as the entry in the enclosed area of Famagusta a few days ago for inventory of property, but also the statements of T / C officials about opening the enclosure area and ownership status of EVKAF, are unacceptable and do not contribute to the cultivation of a good climate that will allow the resumption of negotiations and ultimately the resolution of the problem.
At the same time, it calls on the Turkish Government once again to comply with the provisions of UN Security Council Resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992), the Kyprian-Denktash High Level Agreement (1979), resolutions, petitions and decisions of the European Parliament and the relevant paragraph in the progress report of Turkey and the recent reply letter of the UN Secretary General regarding Famagusta to the President of the Republic of Cyprus and to immediately return Famagusta to its legal residents ”.
He also "invites our Turkish Cypriot compatriots to join our voices for the return of the city". The resolution states that "such an action, especially at this time, will do its utmost to increase trust between the two communities and will have a positive impact on efforts to improve the overall climate and achieve a comprehensive solution. "I urge the international community, the United Nations and the five Permanent Members of the Security Council to step up their efforts to influence Ankara to change its policy so far and to comply with the requirements of international law." .
Finally, the resolution adopted by the Municipal Council of Famagusta "calls on the refugee world, the entire people and the political leadership to stand above any differences so that these very difficult times can pass to bring about reunification, peace and prosperity." in Cyprus for the entire Cypriot people, the Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latinos.
Famagusta.News / KYPE