Varosha resolution: PACE calls for return to legal owners

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Thursday approved a resolution calling for the return of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants, based on a report by Italian MP Piero Fassino, Cyprus’ House of Representatives said in a press release, noting the contribution of Cypriot MP George Loucaides.

It said Loucaides and the other members of the Cypriot delegation who discussed the issue before the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy “was of decisive importance for the positive outcome of the resolution and the inclusion of particularly important references, also in the form of amendments, through which, among other things, a clear reference is made to invasion and occupation and which in their entirety concern the Cyprus problem and particularly the issue of Famagusta.”

“The main concern of the Cypriot parliamentarians, in addition to the refutation of the known Turkish claims, was to highlight the dangers posed by Turkey's illegal actions with the partial 'opening' of the fenced off town of Famagusta and the consequences of the continuation of the present unacceptable situation for the prospects of the solution of the Cyprus problem”, it added.

In relation to the resolution PACE notes that "practical moves made by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus since October 2020 to re-open Varosha – a fenced-off area of the city of Famagusta which has been a 'ghost town' since the division of the island – are an 'unacceptable change' to its status and a grave violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions", and "undermine the prospects of reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue".

PACE called for Varosha’s return to its lawful inhabitants, either under UN control or as part of a package of reciprocal confidence-building measures between the two communities on the island. Given the highly symbolic importance of Varosha for the Greek Cypriot community, such a step would “constitute a strong positive contribution towards reaching a comprehensive settlement”, the parliamentarians said.

They also underlined the possibility for Greek Cypriots who so wish to apply for pecuniary compensation, exchange or restitution of their properties abandoned in 1974 under the “Immovable Property Commission” (IPC) set up in the northern part of Cyprus following a Strasbourg Court ruling, noting that in most cases processed to date the IPC has ruled for compensation in accordance with the claims of the applicants. However the Assembly also said it understands that, for most Greek Cypriots who are lawful inhabitants of Varosha, applying to the IPC “is not politically acceptable or practicable”.

Almost 50 years since the division of the island, the frozen conflict in Cyprus “harms the vital interests of all Cypriot citizens and may lead to dangerous escalation,” the Assembly pointed out. It reiterated its hopes for a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution for a peaceful and united Cyprus which would “guarantee the legitimate rights of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, in full compliance with the values and principles of the Council of Europe”.

In particular, the Assembly supported the continued efforts by the UN Secretary General and his new Personal Envoy to re-open negotiations between the two Cypriot communities and called on all parties involved to “contribute to the swift resumption of the political process”.

It is noted that the resolution was adopted "by a significant majority", while only Turkish MPs voted against it.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.