Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has urged the European Union not to remain inactive in case Turkey takes any action in Varosha which violates UN Security Council resolutions.
In an intervention during the deliberations of the European Council summit that are taking place during teleconference, President Anastasiades said such actions will cause irreversible consequences in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.
Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushios said President Anastasiades spoke about the need for consistency and continuity of the observed de-escalation on Turkey’s part. He also pointed out the EU’s significant role in the negotiations on Cyprus and thanked the Union for its intention to take on an active role in the process.
In a written statement, the Spokesman referred to the President’s remarks at the Council, noting that as most member states acknowledge, despite Turkey’s “current suspension of illegal actions or provocations against EU member states, the EU is not in a position to become involved in a meaningful dialogue on matters which concern the so called ‘positive agenda’ between the EU and Turkey”.
The President remarked that the observed de-escalation should have consistency and continuity and that Turkey should prove through actions its sincere intention to become constructively involved with other member states, away from threats and blackmail”.
At the same time, said Koushos, “the President of the Republic reminded that previous European Council conclusions and the recent reports of the Commission’s President and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy underline the specific measures that must be taken if Turkey, once again, acts illegally or violates the sovereign rights of Cyprus and Greece”.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, the President of the Republic urged the EU not to remain inactive in the event Turkey takes any actions in Varosha which violate UNSC resolutions 550 and 789, creating irreversible consequences in prospects to resolve the Cyprus issue.
The Spokesman underlined the public rhetoric of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership about solutions that contradict the decades -long agreed form of solution, which has been determined by Relevant Security Council Resolutions, including 1251.
In view of the forthcoming informal conference on Cyprus, said the Spokesman, President Anastasiades repeated his determination and sincere willingness with a constructive intention to create the necessary preconditions for the resumption of the negotiations that were interrupted at Crans Montana and according to the joint communique issued on 25th November 2019.
The President, Koushos added, pointed out the “especially significant role of the EU in negotiations to achieve a functional and therefore viable solution, securing that a reunited Cyprus will remain a member of the EU and will be able to make effective and credible decisions within the Union”.
President Anastasiades thanked the EU for its declared intention to undertake an active role in the negotiating process, including participation in the informal conference.
On the immigration issue, President Anastasiades underlined that despite “Turkey having received a significant financial assistance to host the refugees, it continues to act as an unreliable partner, refusing to cooperate with member states”, adding that “Turkey has not taken any necessary measures to avert creating new routes for illegal immigration towards Europe”.
On the contrary, he added, Turkey has created a new dangerous course for the influx of immigrants from Turkey to Cyprus which has resulted in the last four years Cyprus ranking first in terms of population in either political asylum applicants or those under international protection status, accounting for 4% of the country’s population.
What is more of concern is that the majority of these people are of Syrian origin and aged between 25-35, the President said, adding that this should be seriously taken into consideration by the Union and the pressure exerted on the Republic of Cyprus.
Under these circumstances, he said, any additional financial assistance to Turkey cannot be examined without taking into consideration Turkey’s attitude towards its neighbours, the EU and other member states.
Regarding the customs union, Koushos said that President Anastasiades once again noted that Turkey violates its contractual obligations against the Union by keeping Cyprus blocked and negatively affecting the EU-Turkey relations and any prospects of upgrading the agreement.
He said any positive move on the EU should be based on any constructive Turkish actions towards the EU and its member states that will actually last.
At the same time, he said, it is imperative for Turkey to fully comply with its contractual obligations with the Union in order to upgrade its relations with the EU and that it should refrain from illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus and the Aegean and to adopt a constructive stance in efforts to resume negotiations for a Cyprus solution.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. 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. The informal conference on Cyprus will take place 27-29 of April in Geneva.
The Turkish side illegally opened on October 8, 2020, part of the beach of the abandoned town of Famagusta, in violation to numerous UN resolutions.
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.
