Turkish Cypriot Groups Calls for EU Action Over `Demographic Changes` in the North
Summary
- The Movement of Cypriots for Peace and Solidarity delivered a letter to European Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto on 6 October, urging EU action over settlement and demographic change in the occupied areas.
- It said Turkey’s settlement, assimilation and integration policies threaten the Turkish Cypriot community, criticised the Republic of Cyprus for not taking the issue to international courts, and questioned local demographic data.
- The Movement called on the EU to support reunification through a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with one sovereignty, citizenship and international personality.
The Movement of Cypriots for Peace and Solidarity delivered a letter to European Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, raising concerns about settlement and demographic change.
The Movement of Cypriots for Peace and Solidarity has called on the European Commission to intervene over settlement and demographic change in the north. A letter setting out the request was delivered in Brussels on 6 October, during meetings with Commission representatives.
According to a written statement by Şener Elcil, İzzet İzcan and Murat Kanatlı, the letter is addressed to European Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto.
The Movement says that Turkey’s policies of settlement, assimilation and integration threaten the survival of the Turkish Cypriot community and alter its political will. It also criticises the Republic of Cyprus for not bringing the issue of settlement before international courts.
The letter cites figures on the demographic situation in the north: 951,356 active mobile phone users, 228,938 household electricity meters and 210,121 registered voters in 2023. The Movement questions the reliability of demographic data published by the north.
Finally, it calls for the EU to contribute to the reunification of Cyprus through a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with one sovereignty, one citizenship and one international personality.
Photo: View northward from Nicosia. Source: Politis.
