MP Mr.Nikos Tornaritis, head of the Cypriot delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), sent a letter, on the occasion of what is happening in the enclosed area of Famagusta, to the Rapporteur on the issue of Famagusta in the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, Mr. Piero Fassino and the heads of the national delegations to the Assembly.
In his letter, Mr. Tornaritis recalls that the developments in the Famagusta enclave and the methodical, gradual opening of the Varosha region by Turkey and the occupying authorities for tourism development purposes are contrary to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which consider as unacceptable attempts to settle any part of the Varosha by persons other than its inhabitants and provide for the transfer of this region to the administration of the United Nations. Turkey, the Cypriot MP stresses, is not only violating its international obligations, but is taking advantage of the operation of the "Property Committee" with the ultimate aim of usurping Greek Cypriot properties in the enclosed area of Famagusta and other occupied areas.
The Cypriot MP stresses that the international community must not remain inactive in the face of these worrying developments, as the property issue is of capital importance for the resolution of the Cyprus problem. He calls on the member states of the Council of Europe to take more active action, in addition to condemning Turkey for its illegal actions in Cyprus and its efforts to create new facts on the ground, which undermine the prospects for the resolution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of the country. He urged the Member States to exert their influence on Turkey to reverse its illegal plans in Famagusta.
Finally, Mr. Tornaritis reaffirmed the readiness of the Greek Cypriot side to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible on the basis of the agreed United Nations framework, with the European Union playing a supporting and supporting role in the process, with a view to reaching a solution of a bizonal bicommunal federation.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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