The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, stated that the only way to permanently address refugee issues is by solving the Cyprus problem. He made these remarks in response to public questions during an event on democracy, co-organised on Wednesday morning by the Office of the Commissioner for the Citizen and the CARDET research centre at the Presidential Palace.
Responding to a participant’s comment about refugees being approached by Turkish land developers to sell their property in the occupied areas, the President clarified that property rights are personal and said, “No state will criticise you if you decide to sell.”
He added that, over the past 20 months, the government has tackled the long-standing issue of refugee housing, implementing the largest state intervention on this matter. He also referred to new evaluation criteria being developed for the distribution of Turkish Cypriot properties.
“Whatever the state does, it can only partially meet its obligations to refugees. Nothing can make up for the abnormal situation we are living in. The only solution is to resolve the Cyprus issue,” he said, while emphasising that this does not excuse inaction on other fronts.
The President also highlighted steps taken during his administration to address property exploitation in the occupied areas for the first time.
Dialogue on Democracy
In his brief address, the President stated that the purpose of these forums is to tackle the crisis of trust in institutions. He stressed that “it is a strategic goal to open the state to society and citizens,” promoting direct communication and enhancing participatory democracy.
“Cyprus is its citizens,” he said, underlining that this is not just a slogan but a political commitment to prioritise democratic participation and active citizenship. He expressed his desire for his administration’s legacy to be one of greater citizen involvement in decision-making processes.
“We will intensify efforts to bring citizens closer to authority. As a state, it is our duty to earn the trust of our citizens. We don’t need to convince young people to engage; we need to win their trust in state institutions,” he said.
He also mentioned that increased citizen participation fosters transparency. As part of these efforts, the government has launched platforms such as “Expressioncy,” “Voice of the Citizen,” and “Governance,” aiming to make accountability tangible.
Support for the Elderly
Responding to a question about policies for the elderly, the President acknowledged the lack of a comprehensive strategy. However, he noted measures already taken by his government, such as doubling the allowance for elderly care homes from €650 to €1,300 and including low-income pensioners in special electricity rate categories.
Education, Disability, and Teacher Evaluation
Addressing concerns that some educators avoid teaching certain “controversial” topics, the President said the government would proceed with teacher evaluations, which would also include feedback from students. While acknowledging potential resistance from unions, he emphasised, “Evaluation is non-negotiable, and we will move forward even if it means confrontation.”
When questioned about the exclusion of sign language interpretation at the event and the broader lack of inclusivity for students with disabilities, the President accepted the criticism, stating, “We should have included sign language.” He admitted that Cyprus is lagging behind on disability issues but noted that public consultations have begun to address these shortcomings, with a commitment to providing equal opportunities for all children.
Road Safety and Traffic Cameras
The President also commented on recent road accidents involving four young victims, stressing the need to build a culture of road safety.
When asked about high fines from the traffic camera system, he linked the issue to road safety, saying, “Some have come to me asking for reduced fines. We need to decide what we want. Building a culture of road safety is more important.”
He added that cameras alone are not the solution: “Policing, road awareness, culture, and family involvement are all necessary. We need to work together to address this issue.”
Affordable Housing and Employment
In response to questions about rising rents in Larnaca due to development and ensuring dignified employment, the President said development is essential, but the challenge lies in enabling Cypriots to work for foreign companies investing in Cyprus and earn higher wages.
“Technology companies investing here are hiring foreign staff because they can’t find Cypriots to fill these positions,” he noted, stressing the importance of career guidance in schools.
He also highlighted the Interior Ministry’s efforts to address housing needs by launching eight housing schemes and announced plans to allocate more funds next year to meet growing demand.
Also read: Christodoulides to upgrade Cyprus-France agreement with Macron
