Efforts underway to prevent Varosha fait accompli, president says (Update 4)

President Nicos Anastasiades said Wednesday he expected the UN and the EU to react accordingly to any Turkish actions concerning Varosha, as the National Council discussed the matter during a marathon meeting.

“Every effort aims to prevent any fait accompli sought by Turkey through the presence or the announcements of the Turkish president,” Anastasiades said.

The president was speaking during a reception at the French ambassador’s residence to mark Bastille Day.

Anastasiades said representations were being made “and what I expect is for the UN and the EU to react according to Turkey’s behaviour”.

Earlier, ruling Disy leader Averof Neophytou said things were “extremely difficult” as regards Varosha after the National Council meeting called by Anastasiades.

Anastasiades said in a tweet that they “exchanged views in a constructive atmosphere over the resumption of the negotiation process, but mainly over a response to the Turkish provocations”.

According to government spokesman Marios Pelekanos some decisions were taken that will be implemented depending on developments.

Famagusta mayor Simos Ioannides and attorney-general (AG) Giorgos Savvides were also present at the meeting that lasted almost four hours.

The top advisory body convened amid calls by Famagusta refugees for guidance on what to do in the case Turkey invites Varosha residents to return to their properties under Turkish Cypriot administration. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is scheduled to visit the north on July 20 with a large entourage, is expected to make announcements on Varosha.

Neophytou said after the meeting that the joint effort of all, government and parties, was required to prevent new faits accomplis “that on the one hand will have very negative consequences for the fenced area of Famagusta and on the other hand will create insurmountable difficulties in finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.”

“Things are extremely difficult,” Neophytou said.

Ioannou echoed Neophytou’s comments.

“We are at the most difficult juncture of the Cyprus issue. It is very difficult for the talks to start, and we still have this issue of the fenced area of Famagusta,” he said after the meeting. The mayor said that if Erdogan announces that Greek Cypriot residents may return under Turkish Cypriot administration it “will cause confusion and division among the people of Famagusta”.

Ioannou said that the fenced area of Varosha was only 16 per cent of the whole city of Famagusta. “Our municipal boundaries are 38 square kilometres and this part is 6.4. But if this part is lost, the whole of Cyprus will be lost, everything related to the territorial issue and the settlement of the Cyprus problem will be lost.”

Refugees from Varosha are torn about whether to claim their properties through the immovable properties commission (IPC) set up by Turkey in the north as domestic remedy, fearing they might lose them if they don’t.

The government had advised against such a move arguing it is a trap while Ioannou said there are people who stated they would return under Turkish Cypriot administration to ensure they would not lose their properties.

Asked which area would be affected by Erdogan’s possible call for return, he said according to his information it covered an area north of the church of Ayios Nicolaos and east of the second High School of Famagusta. It is an area beyond Ermou Street with old houses and shops.

In total 36 applications have been submitted to the IPC for this specific area, he said, but clarified that it does not mean that applicants are asking to return, but seeking compensation for loss of use.

“Nobody knows how many of them will return under Turkish Cypriot administration,” he said. He added that the same is true for the 344 who applied to the IPC for properties within the whole fenced area.

He said that these are legal issues, and that the municipality would take a stand if and when Erdogan issues such a call.

AG Savvides, according to Pelekanos, briefed the National Council on the positions of the legal service on some aspects. Savvides said on Tuesday the government has received a series of legal opinions over the past six months from foreign experts about Varosha and his office is supporting the president and the foreign ministry on this issue. He stressed however, that the issue was predominantly political with some legal implications.

It is speculated that Erdogan might announce that Varosha, which is currently a military area, will be turned into a civilian one which would pave the way for the settlement of residents.

UNSG deputy spokesman Farhan Haq on Tuesday reiterated during the daily press briefing, that the status of Varosha remains unchanged.

UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. Resolution 789 (1992) also calls that, with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha. The fenced area is currently under the Turkish army.