Παρέμβαση της επικεφαλής της κυπριακής αντιπροσωπείας κας Ελένης Λουκαΐδου για το θέμα των Βαρωσίων στη Σύνοδο ολομέλειας ΕΕτΠ
Mr. President,
Thank you for the floor. I was not able to ask tabling this issue under the local matters debate, since the issue I am going to refer to, happened after the deadline for doing so was over.
I would like to bring before the plenary session, an issue of local concern, with major consequences not only for Cyprus, but for the whole of the European Union, since it concerns European territory.
Very briefly, I would like to bring to your attention, further negative developments, on the issue of Turkish led plans in the fenced area of Varosha.
Since the 1974 Turkish invasion, the area to the south of the city of Famagusta, Varosha, has been sealed off and closed by the Turkish army, in order to prevent the return of its inhabitants.
In violation of UN resolutions protecting the city and defining the framework for the return of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants under UN administration, last Thursday, Turkey illegally reopened a part of the beach area, in the enclosed part of the city and threatens to settle the city with people other than its lawful inhabitants.
On Friday, the UN Security Council called for a reversal of the decision to open the fenced-off area of Varosha and to adhere to UN resolutions.
These actions apart from the fact that they are contrary to UN resolutions, also damage the efforts for the resumption of talks for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem.
I will come back to this topic at the first CIVEX meeting, but in the meantime I would like to ask the President to bring the concerns of all Cypriot local authorities to the highest level of the EU, namely the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
Thank you for your attention.
Βρυξέλλες , 140η Σύνοδος ολομέλειας ΕΕτΠ- Οκτώβριος 2020