Athens steadfast on Cyprus issue, Kranidiotis condemns continuing Turkish occupation

Athens, 17/7/1999 (ANA)

The government noted yesterday that its positions over a resolution of the protracted Cyprus problem remained unchanged, 25 years
after the invasion of Turkish troops and occupation of the island's northern third.
"For a quarter of a century, the Cypriot tragedy has been a black page in the annals of contemporary world history and civilisation,"
Alternate Foreign Minister Yannos Kranidiotis said in a statement.
He added that in the summer of 1974 Turkey used brute force to "proceed with one of the most abhorrent ethnic cleansing operations"
on Cyprus.
A third of Greek Cypriots became refugees and the tragedy of those listed as missing during the invasion continues, he said.
"In the occupied territories of Cyprus, Turkey is implementing a systematic programme of demographic changes, led by illegal Turkish
settlers while continuing to oppress and gradually push out the enclaved," he said.
"Our positions on Cyprus remain unchanged. The situation today, created by force in Cyprus, is unacceptable. No matter how much time
passes, the struggle to restore legality will continue.
"Cyprus' struggle is Hellenism's struggle. Greece remains a guarantor of the security and existence of Cypriot Hellenism, steadily
pursuing the implementation of the joint defence doctrine and Cyprus' accession to the European Union," he concluded.
Responding to a press question, Mr. Kranidiotis said Greece condemned as "totally illegal", festivities taking part in Turkish-occupied
northern Cyprus, adding that they do not contribute to the effort for securing peace on Cyprus.