Galery

1

A publication in the Turkish newspaper Milliyet caused Cyprus to respond with a protest note to the United Nations. According to the publication, Turkish Cypriot authorities intend to raise the blockade of the closed Varosha neighbourhood in the occupied town of Famagusta.

Entitled "The ghost town opening" the article reports that Turkish Cypriot authorities intend to make "a historic step." The text also states that all Greek Cypriots will be able to return to their homes in the town, which will be under Turkish control and that actions for the opening of Varosha have already started.

Milliyet refers to information according to which the matter was discussed during the visit of Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu in Ankara on 13 March. Together with his adviser and Foreign Minister Hussein Yozgyurgyun, he raised the issue of the opening of Famagusta to the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and the President Abdullah Gul. The publication states that the Turkish government was positive to the proposal.

For this purpose, a report was necessary to describe the number of Greek Cypriots - property owners in the closed town, in which part they can return and what will be the property ownership status. One of the unclear issues is the number of dead.

The report will mention the name of the rightful owner of the property before 1974. Greek Cypriots, who are willing, will receive an invitation to return to the town, which will be under Turkish control. A so-called real estate commission will judge possible legal issues.

Sources cited by the Turkish newspaper indicate that after Cyprus takes the presidency of the European Union in the second half of the year, a new strategy for solving the Cyprus dispute will be adopted. "Turkish diplomacy has already undertaken to draw up the tactics it will use." Within these tactics, Varosha neighbourhood will be open on 1 July.

The newspaper states that the suspension of negotiations to settle the Cyprus dispute during the presidency of the Republic of Cyprus was widely discussed during the visit of Dervis Eroglu in Turkey. The Turkish Prime Minister was the one who sent the message that the negotiations should stop. President Abdullah Gul, however, opposed the Prime Minister not so much for the interruption of negotiations for Turkey's accession to the European Union but for the suspension of negotiations for resolving the Cyprus dispute. He emphasized that they should continue after 1 July in order to avoid further problems with the European Union. In any case, he is in the minority, since Dervis Eroglu, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu do not share his opinion.

The article describes the proposal of Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias for the return of Varosha to Greek Cypriots and for the operation of the port under the control of the European Union, which was made some time ago. According to Milliyet, it is fully satisfied by the proposal for the return of Greek Cypriots to the closed town under Turkish control.

In statements to the Cypriot public REC TV, Foreign Minister Erato Kozaku-Markkuli said she will talk to the senior adviser of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus and will ask for a detailed investigation of the matter. She, however, said that the Cypriot authorities have not found any change in the status quo of the region to date, nor have public works been held, as stated in the article by Milliyet.

The Minister warned that should the writing in the publication be confirmed, this would be a violation of Security Council resolutions 550 and 789. They stipulate that the area of ​​Famagusta should be under the control of the United Nations and residents who left it during the invasion in 1974 should return to it. "Any settlement in the closed area of ​​Famagusta will suspend negotiations for Turkey's accession to the European Union," the Minister said.

The mayor in exile of the occupied town of Famagusta determined the invitation to Greek Cypriots having property to return to the town as a "dangerous move" of the unrecognized Republic of Northern Cyprus. Commenting on the Cypriot public REC TV, Alexis Galanos said, "it must be clear that the only acceptable solution is the implementation of resolutions 550 and 789 of the Security Council and the final resolution of the European Parliament for the handing over of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants under the control of the Republic of Cyprus after the United  Nations play its part."