Presidential Commissioner meets German Ambassador to Cyprus
CNA - CYPRUS/Nicosia 21/10/2021
Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou met on Thursday with the German Ambassador to Cyprus Anke Schlimm in the context of his initiative to brief Ambassadors and head of diplomatic missions to Cyprus with regard to issues of his competencies.
According to an official press release, during the meeting the Presidential Commission conveyed both the Cyprus government and his gratitude on Germany’s long-standing support to the efforts to resolve the humanitarian issue of the missing persons as well as Berlin’s support to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Permanent Representatives.
Photiou also thanked Schlimm for Germany’s financial contribution to the bi-communal programme of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) and expressed his wish that this cooperation will continue.
According to the press release, Photiou criticized Turkey’s negative stance towards the resolution of the missing persons issue. Turkey, he said, is not only responsible for the creation of the problem but its perpetuation to the detriment of the relatives of the missing persons.
Turkey’s repeated denial to implement the European Court of Human Rights decisions of 2001 and 2004 is indicative of its disrespect to European institutions and of the international law.
Photiou also said that the international community and the EU are in position to undertake humanitarian initiatives so that the occupying power would comply with the principles and values of human rights to the benefit of the families, which for almost half a century they live in uncertainty for the fate of their loved ones.
On her part, Schlimm reiterated her country’s steadfast support to every effort aiming to resolve the issue of the missing persons and she assured that German government’s support to the efforts to ascertain the fate of the missing persons of Cyprus will continue.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
CNA/GS/GV/2021
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
