The recognition of the sacrifice of the parents and spouses of our fallen and missing persons must not be confined to verbal references made in front of television cameras

 

Statement by AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees, Enclaved Persons, Missing Persons and War-stricken Victims

17 October 2023

The Parliamentary Refugee Committee discussed yet again the issue of the provision of a care plan for parents, spouses and widows of the fallen and missing persons. The issue had to be brought back for debate since a representative of the Ministry of Finance wasn’t present at the last debate.

In the presence of the Director-General of the Deputy Ministry of Welfare and a representative of the Ministry of Finance, it was unfortunately confirmed that the Ministry of Finance had rejected the proposal of the Deputy Ministry of Welfare, the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees and the organisations of relatives of the missing persons for a care allowance to granted to the parents and spouses of the missing persons.

The reaction of the Committee’s members was particularly strong because this is a group of people who have been called upon to bear a disproportionate burden of the consequences of the invasion and ongoing occupation. The fact that the total budget needed for this project is not going to turn the country’s economy upside down raises further concerns about the reasons for the rejection.

It’s unacceptable that the Government’s recognition of the sacrifice of these families is expressed only verbally in front of TV cameras at the memorials and funerals of our missing. We have asked the Finance and the State Welfare Ministry to review the issue because it must be a priority. They should consider the mothers and wives of our missing persons who were forced to raise their families alone, who holding their photographs, international campaigns were organised to raise awareness of the dramatic aspect of our missing persons.

Now is the time to pay the minimum of respect, the Government is sitting back and taking into account socio-economic criteria. In a state where multiple pensions and overtime are given to officials, this care plan, if approved by the Treasury, would cost €500,000. We will come back in 15 days and will not accept another negative response.