Filenews 3 July 2022 - by Jean Christou
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| File Photo - Nicos Nouris |
The government is intensifying its efforts to curb illegal crossings through the buffer zone, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said on Sunday.
“For those who do not care, we refer to the escalating reactions of all the European countries, which one after the other, are realising the need to limit the migratory flood and intensify measures,” the minister said. “How much more” then must Cyprus react in a “semi-occupied homeland”, he added during an event in Ayios Ioannis Pitsilia.
Turkey, he said, in addition to the systematic policy of “colonisation of the occupied part of Cyprus”, in recent years has also indulged in an “alternative type of colonisation” of the government-controlled areas through the illegal channelling of irregular immigrants, “who by the thousands are pushed towards the Green Line”.
He said the purpose was clear – to cause economic, social and political problems in the Greek Cypriot community.
While the Greek Cypriot side, he said, firmly sticks to its efforts to build a peaceful future, which will be based on the principles of respect for democracy and human rights, “the clouds of Turkish provocative behaviour and rhetorical tension are getting thicker”.
“Turkey and unfortunately also the Turkish Cypriot side, deliberately choose to trample on the prospects of the solution and reunification of the country, deviating from the relevant Security Council Resolutions, but also the principles and values of the European Union,” said Nouris.
