Borrell reiterates criticism of Turkey over Varosha

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has reiterated criticism of Turkey’s decision to reopen part of the beachfront of Varosha, a resort abandoned since Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974.

Responding to a letter by leftist deputies at the European Parliament on the initiative of Turkish Cypriot MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek (elected in 2019 on the ticket of Cyprus’ communist-rooted AKEL party), Borrell called upon Turkey to reverse its unilateral action, stressing that the move was in contravention of UN resolutions on the ethnically-split island.

The EU’s top diplomat also reiterated the bloc’s readiness to undertake an active role in UN-brokered negotiations to reunite the island.

A steady and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and the development of mutually-beneficial relations between players in the region is to the benefit of the EU’s strategic interest, he said.

EU involvement in any future peace talks, including the informal summit being organised for late February or early May in New York, has been repeatedly opposed by the new Turkish Cypriot leadership and Turkey.