The plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) approved the resolution of its rapporteur Piero Fassino on the return of Varosha residents to their legal places of residence.
The resolution was approved by a significant majority, with only Turkish MPs voting against. In addition to refuting Turkish statements, Greek Cypriot MPs stressed the danger posed by Turkey’s continued unilateral partial opening of the closed city. This act was condemned as having negative consequences in the form of prolonging the impasse in the Cyprus problem and as an unacceptable and unstable situation.
A member of the Parliament of Cyprus as part of the PACE delegation, Yorgos Loukaides, strongly supported the adoption of the resolution.
“The fait accompli imposed by the occupation authorities on Varosha was the worst since the illegal proclamation of a pseudo-state in 1983. Turkey’s actions in Famagusta are illegal and contradict UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789, which call for the return of the city to its rightful owners under the management of the United Nations,” Lukaides told the audience.
The MP said that if we consider the situation in the broader context of the desire of Turkey and its “elected” Turkish Cypriot figures to deviate from the agreed framework, then the risks for Cyprus and its people are maximum. The adopted resolution clearly refers to the invasion and occupation in the context of Cyprus and the special circumstances of Famagusta, and also calls for the cancellation of illegal actions by Turkey, which it considers an obstacle to the resumption of negotiations within the framework of the United Nations.
“The resolution considers as the only possible solution the return of the city to its legitimate inhabitants through the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 550 and 789 or as part of a package of confidence—building measures, thereby strengthening efforts to achieve a comprehensive solution,” PACE said.
At the same time, support was expressed for the efforts of the Personal Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Maria Angela Holguin, to resume negotiations. Moreover, the resolution called on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership to comply with the UN resolutions concerning Famagusta, as well as to return to the negotiating table.
He added that the continued division of Cyprus threatens stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, and reaffirmed the EU Council’s principled position on the reunification of Cyprus and the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive solution that ensures the legitimate interests of the two communities.
Meanwhile, MP Giorgos Stamatis was appointed to speak on the adoption of the resolution on behalf of the European People’s Party (EPP).
“For 50 years, Turkey has been violating human rights in parts of the island, as a result of which Nicosia remains the only divided European capital to this day,” Stamatis said.
He noted that the international community “calls for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the region and the return of their property to the residents of Varosha.” Turkey, he added, by its unilateral actions violates international law and UN resolutions in its attempts to impose a two-state solution.
“The highest duty of the Council of Europe is to take political initiatives to prevent the resumption of long—term conflicts,” Stamatis said, drawing a parallel with Ukraine.
A source: cyprus-mail.com , based on the materials of cyprusbutterfly
