The visit President of Turkey is planning today to the fenced-off city of Famagusta constitutes an unprecedented provocation, in full violation of the UN Security Council’s resolution 550 and 789, as well as with the Conclusions of the European Council, the Foreign Ministry of Greece says.
“The Turkish President’s scheduled visit to occupied Varosha, accompanied by a government team, on the “anniversary” of the unilateral and illegal declaration of the Turkish Cypriot entity in occupied Cyprus, is an unprecedented provocation that is in direct violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789 and the Conclusions of the European Council,” the announcement reads.
The Greek FM also points out that “this action adds to Turkey’s ongoing and increasing violations of international legality in the Eastern Mediterranean. We condemn it in the most categorical manner and expect it to be discussed in depth at the upcoming December meeting of the European Council”.
Greece, the announcement says, “has repeatedly stressed that it is in favour of the resumption of negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General with a view to finding a comprehensive, just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the resolutions of the Security Council and the European Acquis. To achieve this goal, Greece is in ongoing coordination and in complete accord with the Cypriot government”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. On November 15, 1983 the Turkish-occupying regime proceeded with an illegal UDI, which the UN Security Council in resolution 541 (1983) has described as “legally invalid” and called for its withdrawal.
The Turkish side illegally opened on October 8 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.
Source : Agencies
