The start of the second phase in the opening of the ghost town of Varosha was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in speeches today during the celebrations of the 47th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Greek Cypriots are protesting against violations of UN resolutions, BNR reported.
3.5% of the territory of Varosha, the 47-year-old abandoned Cypriot-Greek suburb of Famagusta, is included in the pilot opening. From this part, the status of a Turkish military zone will be lifted and it will be handed over to the Cypriot-Turkish civil administration with “respect for property rights”. Greek Cypriots wishing to return their property can apply to a specialized Turkish commission in the occupied territories.
“This region, which has been inactive for years, will be a symbol of the island’s prosperous future,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Along with the new move, the Turkish side is opening two new beaches to the public, previously unoccupied due to the fence, and building various public facilities. They are among the projects funded by Turkey in the northern part of the island that Erdogan is launching today.
The first phase of the opening of Varosha began on October 8th last year, in the presence of the Turkish president, provoking sharp reactions from the international community. A large demonstration titled “We are all Famagusta” gathered hundreds of Greek Cypriots, refugees and politicians from various parties near the city’s demarcation line on Monday night. They protested against Turkey’s unilateral decisions violating UN resolutions on Varosha. “A change in the status quo of Famagusta is unacceptable,” Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis said today.
The EU is concerned about Erdogan’s plan and reiterates the need to avoid unilateral action.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was “alarmed” by a project announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to reopen the former resort town of Varosha in Cyprus and described it as “unacceptable”, AFP reported.
“The EU reiterates the need to avoid unilateral actions contrary to international law and new provocations, which could increase tensions on the island and compromise the resumption of talks on a global settlement of the Cyprus issue, “the European foreign minister said in a statement.
After the Turkish operation in 1974, Varosha remained under the control of the Turkish army and is in fact the only area in occupied northern Cyprus where no Turks are accommodated and there is a possibility of restoring the property of the displaced Greek Cypriots, the Philelefteros newspaper notes. However, despite UN Security Council resolutions, the authorities in the SCTR and the Turkish army proceeded in 2020 to partially open the suburb to visitors, which provoked a sharp reaction from the Republic of Cyprus and Greece.
According to UN resolutions, the resettlement of anyone in the area, except for the legal owners who fled during the invasion, is unacceptable.
