” “"We can no longer accept separated ghost cities in Europe". This is the statement made by Giovanni Di Stasi, president of the Congress of Local and Regional Powers at the Council of Europe, at the end of his visit to Cyprus. "This split is detrimental to the living standards of the population of Cyprus and any other community". President Di Stasi went to the Cypriot island for kicking off a consistent involvement of the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community in the work of the Congress. No less important for Di Stasi is the citizens’ commitment to solve the situation that has happened to take place in the island between the Greek Cypriot community (the majority) and the Turkish Cypriot one (the minority). At present, the situation has not been solved yet and has led to the island’s being split between the Greek-Cypriot Republic of Cyprus, which is internationally recognised and a member of the European Union, and the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which occupies the northern third of the island, recognised by Turkey only. "The municipalities and the local powers must play a more active part in the promotion of mutual trust between the two communities. I wish everyone would commit themselves to a fruitful dialogue". The issue of the Turkish-Cypriot membership of the Congress will be high on the agenda of the next Congress meeting.” “
