The Provincial Committee of Famagusta of the Ecologists 'Movement-Citizens' Meeting is distancing itself from the positions of the Second Vice President of the Efi Xanthos movement, as they were expressed in the show "Noon and something" of SIGMA.
Speaking to SigmaLive, Provincial Secretary Michalis Paraschos said that during yesterday's meeting of the Commission, specific decisions were taken on the serious problems facing the region.
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According to him, the people of the province are asking the Provincial Council to take a stand, accusing it of "covering up" and "hiding" against the messages sent by Nicosia.
"We are not at all bothered by this controversy and we are not playing hide and seek. We have a strong view that such issues should be discussed in a low-key way, without escalation or confrontation, "he said.
He clarified that the designation "gathering of illegals" was not a correct description, as citizens and organized groups have the right to gather, protest and view, adding that the state has at its disposal competent departments that will judge if there is an issue, following the legal procedures until its solution.
"Whether the expatriates will be allowed is an issue for which the Republic of Cyprus can go to Brussels, put it on the table and look for a solution. It is neither my issue nor the environmental movement. The fear that has been caused reaches a point of populism ", he emphasizes and adds that the problems that exist are much more serious, but" we are stuck in the shackles ".
He also notes that the Famagusta Provincial Committee has nothing to do with the activists, calling them "self-appointed and uninvited", while condemning the methods they follow, saying they are invading the property of unsuspecting citizens and causing unexpected developments. damaging. "
As he underlines, legislation for the prohibition of viticulture hunting has existed since 1957, while with the accession of Cyprus to the European Union, its legalization was signed.
"Unfortunately, the then government of Glafkos Clerides signed the bills as they were, without asking for a derogation. Trapping and trafficking of wild birds has been banned since 1974, through Articles 10, 14 and 15 of the 1974 Law on the Protection and Development of Wildlife and Wild Birds (39/1974).
He notes that the killing, hunting, possession and consumption of grapefruits has been banned since 1988, when the Republic of Cyprus ratified the "Berne Convention" for the Preservation of the European Directive on Wildlife and Natural Habitats, which it had signed since 1979.
"Specifically, the vineyard is included in Annex II, of its strictly protected species Fauna - Birds on the contract for the Preservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Kyrotiko) Law of 1988 (24/1988). Subsequently, the Cypriot Legislation was harmonized with the Community Directive 2009/147 / EC on the conservation of wild birds (former Directive 79/409 / EEC), in which the House of Representatives voted on the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Birds. . 152 (I) / 2003 ", he emphasizes.
Finally, Mr. Paraschos states that in July 2011, as a result of the 1st Pan-European Congress against Illegal Murder of Birds, held in Cyprus, the Ministry of Interior and the Gate and Fauna Service adopted the "Larnaca Declaration", which provides taking and implementing a policy of zero tolerance against the illegal killing of birds.
Source: SigmaLive