The mayor of the occupied town of Morphou,, during their meeting scheduled for tomorrow as part of Ms. Olguín’s engagements with political parties, organizations, and groups.
The meeting, which was originally scheduled for last Saturday, was postponed at Ms. Olguín’s own request so that she could better prepare for her meetings. As Mr. Hatzavraam noted, the new meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, in the morning.
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Speaking on the Alpha News program, the Mayor of Morphou explained that the Municipality had requested a meeting with the personal envoy since February 2024, when she was appointed to that position, and had recently resubmitted a request to that effect.
“Let’s see where we stand”
As she noted, the main objective of the meeting is to discuss the progress of the Cyprus issue, 52 years after the Turkish invasion, and to determine whether the necessary political will exists on both sides to move the process forward.
“Let’s see where we stand; there needs to be political will on both sides,” he noted, adding that, if such will is not found, it will be necessary to consider what the next milestone might be and whether a new, expanded meeting could take place.
Mr. Hatzavraam clarified that there is no single issue that the Municipality of Morphou will raise, as the discussion more broadly concerns refugees and the occupied municipalities. However, the issue of Morphou’s return is expected to take center stage, as, he noted, it has long been a key element of proposals for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
He recalled that Morphou was also included in the Annan Plan, noting that the Greek Cypriot side believes there can be no solution without the return of the town.
Concerns about development around Morphou
When asked about the development that has taken place in recent years in the Morphou area, the mayor expressed concern about the creation of new facts on the ground, which, in his view, could affect the prospects for the town’s return.
As he noted, the Municipality has long called for an end to this process; however, he is not satisfied with the Turkish Cypriot side’s handling of the matter. At the same time, he noted that the city’s core has remained essentially unchanged for years, arguing that the development taking place in the surrounding areas is creating serious problems.
Finally, Victor Hatzavraam emphasized that the return of Morphou is linked to two key factors: on the one hand, the return of refugees to their properties, and on the other, the issue of Morphou Bay, which, as he noted, is linked to the establishment of actual population ratios in the two constituent states, as provided for in the various plans for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
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