Ownership status of properties in Famagusta undisputed

A report addressing a possible recourse to the United Nations over Famagusta will be presented on Monday before the President Anastasiades, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday.

Replying to remarks made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Christodoulides said that the Cyprus solution that we pursue is a bizonal bicommunal federation, on the basis of UN resolutions.

“This is a clear message towards Cavusolglu and towards every direction,” the Foreign Minister noted, in statements after a memorial service, in Nicosia. As to the possibility of a recourse to the United Nations, the Foreign Minister said that a relevant report was finalized on Saturday, after several meetings with all permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The report will be presented before the President of the Republic, who is also going to be informed about the various options available in order to reach the desired objective, he added.

Referring to Cavusoglu’s remarks in an interview with Kathimerini, Christodoulides said that Turkey needs to offer an answer with regards to the resumption of settlement talks from where they were left off at Crans Montana, on the basis of the terms of reference over which the two leaders reached a mutual understanding on August 9.

The resumption of talks will have one goal only, a Cyprus settlement on the basis of UN resolutions, he added. Any different position on the part of Turkey should be submitted to the UN Secretary-General, Christodoulides said.

Asked about Turkish statements over Famagusta, the Foreign Minister of Cyprus reminded that in his response letter the President of Cyprus, UN Secretary-General wrote last August that the UN and the international community remain committed to UN resolutions and decisions regarding Varosha, the fenced-off part of Famagusta.

As to public statements from the Turkish Cypriot side, that almost 80% of the properties in Varosha belong to EVKAF, the directorate administrating Muslim charitable foundations in Cyprus, the Foreign Minister said that this is absolutely not true.

“Nobody can question the ownership status of properties in Famagusta, irrespective of the number of studies Ozersay conducts and of the actions undertaken by Turkey,” Christodoulides noted.

Asked to comment Cavusoglu’s statement that the terms of reference need to follow a five-party conference, to discuss the type of a Cyprus settlement, the Foreign Minister said that Cavusoglu should convey these positions to the UN Secretary-General.

At times, Cavusoglu makes a number of statements, hoping to create problems inside the Greek Cypriot community, the Foreign Minister said and reiterated, that the goal of a Cyprus settlement is a bizonal, bicommunal federation, on the basis of UN resolutions.

Christodoulides said finally that a group of experts from the Greek Foreign Ministry visited Cyprus and during the last two days they discussed a number of issues, in order to prepare a meeting of the Foreign Ministers that will address all issues, from Cyprus, Greek-Turkish relations and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean to Western Balkans, EU developments and other issues.

Addressing on Sunday the memorial service, the Foreign Minister called for unity in the interior and said that the Greek Cypriot side will continue working for a Cyprus settlement that will reunify the island.

He said moreover that Turkey needs to contribute in forming the appropriate climate, by terminating its illegal activities in the territorial waters of Cyprus and putting an end to its plans for Famagusta.

The recent contacts between the UN envoy Jane Holl Lute and the two leaders have proven beyond any doubt that concluding the terms of reference, to pave the way for the resumption of settlement talks, is possible, the Foreign Minister said. He remarked, however, that Turkey’s intervention and its position for a new procedure, not linked to Crans Montana but aiming for new types of settlement, does not allow for a positive conclusion.