Permanent Secretary of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kornelios Korneliou has briefed the Ambassadors of EU Member States on developments regarding the occupied Famagusta.
On a twitter post the MFA says that Korneliou has briefed the Ambassadors on the recent provocative announcements and threats made by Turkey and the regime in the occupied areas as regards the opening of the fenced off city of Varosha, pointing out that these public announcements violate the international law and the relevant UNSC Resolutions.
In numerous occasions the illegal regime in the occupied areas and Ankara said that the city will gradually reopen, in violation of these resolutions.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘ghost town’. UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.
Efforts over the years for the legitimate citizens of Famagusta to return to the city have met with the refusal of the Turkish side, despite numerous decisions and resolutions by the UN, EU and other international institutions.