AKEL on the two years since the illegal opening of part of the enclosed area of Famagusta

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas

9 October 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Two years after the illegal opening of part of the enclosed area of Famagusta by the occupation authorities, the Erdogan-Tatar duo is preparing new actions and fait accompli in Famagusta. All this is part of their plans to reverse the basis of the solution of the Cyprus problem and to promote a two state “solution” in order to render the partition of our homeland and people permanent. The developments in Varosha are rubbing salt into the wounds of the lawful inhabitants of Famagusta and the Cypriot people as a whole. They stress, however, the urgent need to reverse the disastrous course that the Cyprus problem has taken and our country’s historic challenge to nullify in practice the partitionist plans of the occupying power and its puppets.

In the face of this strategy pursued by Turkey and the pseudo-state [in the occupied areas], a new President of the Republic is demanded to be at the helm of the country next February, who has the will for a solution of the Cyprus problem, with consistency to principles, knowledge and the ability to assess developments. The novice magicians of the ruling DISY party could not even foresee the dramatic developments in Famagusta, let alone act promptly to prevent them.

Averof Neophytou stated that he was “not worried” [about Turkey’s threats] and assessed that there would be “no new provocative actions as far as Varosha is concerned”. Nikos Christodoulides spoke with the same seriousness about “communication tricks” on the part of the Turkish side.

In contrast, it was Andreas Mavroyiannis, who in a public intervention promptly warned about the occupation plans for the opening of Varosha and “construction developments” by Turkish businessmen.

AKEL addresses a call for unity and rallying together to all Cypriots who understand the nightmarish partitionist scenarios for the future of our homeland. We should formulate the majority that will mark the change in the governance of the country, accompanied by the assumption of initiatives seeking the resumption of the talks from the point where they had remained in 2017, for a solution to the Cyprus problem on the agreed basis and framework, the only way that can in practice halt the permanent partition of our homeland.