The people of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta have appealed to the UN to open a check point, on the southern suburbs of their hometown, to pave the way for the delivery of the fenced part of the town (Varosha) to its lawful inhabitants.
Members of “Famagusta our City”, civil society and party representatives rallied together on Saturday at the Derynia checkpoint demanding its opening as a first step towards the resettlement of Varosha by its lawful inhabitants, sealed off since August 1974 when it fell to Turkey’s advancing troops.
In a petition they handed to the UN, the Organization points out that the opening of the checkpoint will enhance cooperation and foster dialogue, thus contributing to intercommunal trust and peace in Cyprus.
“In the years to come, as it is predicted, Varosha will go through a transitional period prior to resettlement and will need the easy access of the Deryneia checkpoint for inter-communal cooperation.”
Furthermore, the petition says, such an opening will shorten the distance in the area, meet humanitarian needs and improve inter-communal relations.
Noting that the economic crisis on the island as a whole forces youth migration abroad on both sides, it says that “we cannot sit around and wait any longer.”
“This venture will contribute to rejuvenate our treasured and archaeologically important medieval city, thus facilitate people on both sides to promote their businesses and the services offered for the common good, giving an example of a unified economy and a unified country”, the petition concludes.
The new town of Famagusta (Varosha) was abandoned by its inhabitants in August 1974, as they fled the advancing Turkish troops which had launched a second offensive against Cyprus, having seized a large part of Kyrenia district, on the north. Since then, the town, abandoned to the elements, has been sealed off and is under the control of the Turkish military.
UN resolution 550 calls for the return of the city to its lawful inhabitants. So far Ankara has not complied with any calls from the international community to do just that. Over the past four decades, there have been discussions about Varosha at the ongoing peace talks but nothing concrete has ever happened.
CNA MAN/MM/2015