President of the Republic Demetris Christofias has made it clear that the preconditions for the return of Varosha (the fenced off area of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta) to its legal inhabitants are explicit and defined by the UN.
Christofias referred to possible moves by the Turkish side, when invited to comment on a report by the Turkish daily Milliet about a possible opening of Varosha on July 1st, when Cyprus will assume the six monthly rotating EU presidency.
The President noted that there has been a lot of speculation with regard to Milliet’s report, adding that one can expect anything from the Turkish leadership.
“As far as we are concerned, the conditions for the return of Varosha are crystal clear and have been defined and reaffirmed by the UN Security Council,” he stressed.
He recalled that he submitted in 2010 a three-tier proposal with regard to Famagusta that concerns all sides, Turkish Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkey, but which has not been accepted.
“From there on everything else is likely to be ploys, possible scenario which no-one can rule out. It is unproductive and not right to discuss such hypothetical scenario,” he added.
Christofias advised Famagusta citizens to remain calm and cautious and trust the political leadership.
The city of Famagusta was captured by the invading Turkish forces in August 1974. It was sealed off and remains uninhabited, under the direct control of the Turkish military.
The Republic of Cyprus has since declared the ports in the occupied areas closed since it cannot exercise its full control over them, as a result of the continuing Turkish occupation.
The fenced-off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta – called Varosha – was abandoned by its lawful inhabitants, as they fled the advancing Turkish troops.
Varosha remains since 1974 a sealed area, a ghost town, since the Turkish army does not allow visitors or the lawful inhabitants of the area to visit it.
In July 2010, the Cypriot President proposed the return of the fenced-off area of Varosha, in Famagusta, to the administration of the United Nations, combined with the opening of the port of Famagusta under EU auspices for use by the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots alike and the restoration of the medieval part of the town of Famagusta. The Turkish side has rejected the proposal.
UNSC resolution 550, adopted in 1984, calls upon all states to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus and considers 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 United Nations.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-led talks are currently underway between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus with an aim to reunify the island