The colonalisation of Famagusta will have disastrous consequences for the Cyprus problem
Statement by AKEL Political Bureau member C.Christofides on the real danger of the occupying power moving to open the enclosed city of Varosha in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 4th October 2020, Nicosia
About a year ago, when Ozersay (Note: the so-called “Foreign Minister” of the illegal regime in the occupied areas) announced an initiative to open the fenced-off city of Varosha under Turkish Cypriot administration, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides described the announcement as a “communication ploy in the run-up to elections in the occupied territories”, Whereas the danger of a Turkish move on Varosha was underestimated by the President of the ruling DISY party Averof Neophytou just a few months ago. This was followed by the realization that the danger for Famagusta is indeed real.
The position to open the fenced off city has been stated several times since then, both by occupying Turkey and by Turkish Cypriot nationalist politicians. The colonalisation of Famagusta will have disastrous consequences for the Cyprus problem and the city itself. It threatens to put a definitive end to the prospect of liberation and reunification of our homeland and to lose a historic city forever.
In the face of this enormous and real danger, the Cypriot government needs to mobilize itself. It needs to raise international community’s awareness, by sending out the message to everyone that the processes for the colonalisation of Famagusta will destroy any prospects of solving the Cyprus problem. That they violate the Resolutions of the UN Security Council, especially Resolutions 550 and 789. That they violate European decisions, International and European law.
We hope that the danger will not once again be underestimated and that this time the government will act preventatively and not after the event.
