Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu told CNN Turk in an interview on Monday that the Turkish army could have easily taken over coastal Larnaca back in the July 1974 invasion.
He was talking about the ghost town of Famagusta and apparently wanted to make a point that the Cyprus problem must be solved as a whole and that efforts should not focus on the return of the port town alone.
“My goal is not the solution of the issue of Varosha (Famagusta). Varosha is only on aspect of the territorial problem and the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to discuss all aspects when the chapter of the territory opens after the resumption of the peace process,” Eroglu also said.
He also repeated that Turkey’s guarantees are essential even after an overall settlement in Cyprus is reached.