The illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus, has said it will impose taxes on more goods, which are sent, through the UN, as humanitarian aid to enclaved Greek Cypriots and Maronites, living in the occupied areas of the Republic.
Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Fotis Fotiou has told reporters after a meeting with President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades about the missing persons’ issue that the regime not only prohibits the transport of special foodstuff to enclaved persons facing health problems but it is also widening the list of taxable goods to include stationery for the schools in Rizokarpaso and pharmaceuticals which are needed for farmers and bee farmers.
He said this was confirmed by the UN which said that these goods are now included in the list of goods which will be taxed.
Asked how the government is handling the issue, Fotiou said that “there are two parametres. Efforts have not ceased on a political and diplomatic level. The issue will close only when this inhuman, unacceptable measure is lifted”, adding that everything that needs to be done is being done, away from the limelight.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
At the end of the second phase of the Turkish invasion late in August 1974, about 20,000 Greek and Maronite Cypriots inhabiting in villages and townships primarily in the Karpas Peninsula of northeast Cyprus and in villages west of the city of Kyrenia remained behind the ceasefire line. Today, only a total of 437 (April 2013) persons remain behind the “green line,” of whom 328 are Greek Cypriot and 109 Maronite Cypriots. These persons are known as the “enclaved”.
Despite the Third Vienna Agreement, Turkey and its Turkish Cypriot surrogates have violated all its terms. Since 1974, theenclaved have endured conditions of hardship and oppression because of their ethnicity, language and religion.
