The following editorial appeared in the Cyprus Mail of Nicosia on 17 August 2000, written by Athena Karsera.

"Morphou’s refugees remember invasion

Residents of the occupied town of Morphou held a peaceful gathering last night outside Phaneromeni Church in old Nicosia to commemorating the 26th anniversary of their town’s invasion.

In a petition handed to representatives of the five permanent UN Security Council members earlier in the day, the Morphou refugees said that the occupation was an affront to humanity and repeated their determination to return home.

They also expressed their disappointment and bitterness at the absence of action to force the Turkish troops off the island.

Delivering the petition Morphou mayor Antigoni Papadopoulou said, "We demand that an agreed solution should safeguard the return of all towns and villages, not only Morphou but all occupied areas."

She said that the people of her town also expected the solution to secure human rights while the petition said, "It is a disgrace to civilised humanity to accept that at the dawn of the 21st century, the thousands of Greek Cypriot refugees are still deprived of the right to return to their homes and properties."

It continued, "We believe that Europe and also the governments of the US, Russia, China, France and the UK can exert more pressure on Turkey to change its attitudes and work towards a just solution to the Cyprus problem."

The petition concluded, "Cyprus is too small to be divided forever. We ask for action not promises.""