Parties fret over Erdogan’s plans for Varosha

Opposition parties on Friday called on the government to act against Turkish plans on a two-state solution in Cyprus amid news that the further opening of the fenced area of Varosha would proceed as planned.

Condemning the latest statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Akel and Edek called on the government to act against the Turkish side’s actions.

In an interview with Turkish channel ATV, Erdogan had called on the international community to recognise the northern part of the island and said that there would be no more concessions on the Cyprus problem.

The Turkish president said they would not wait for another 50 years for a federal solution to the Cyprus problem and that two sovereign states on the island was the way forward

Erdogan also reiterated the Turkish position that the opening of the fenced area of Varosha under Turkish Cypriot administration would be according to international law and that they had experts to help on this issue.

The Turkish side has announced the demilitarisation of a small part of the fenced Varosha area, which is a Turkish military zone, and called on Greek Cypriot refugees to file their claims to properties there through the immovable property commission (IPC).

Erdogan also said they were thinking of holding an international academic conference on Varosha in autumn. The conference, he said, would take place through one of the Turkish universities and would also cover Varosha.

The fenced area of Varosha has been empty since 1974 when its residents fled during the Turkish invasion. The government, the EU, and the UN call on the Turkish side to implement Security Council resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992) that stipulate that any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants is inadmissible and call for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN.

In the meantime, after a meeting chaired by Erdogan, Turkey’s National Security Council on Thursday urged key actors in the Cyprus issue, “to be part of the solution, rather than insisting on their uncompromising approach.” It added that an equal, sovereign, independent two-state solution will contribute to the peace and prosperity of both communities on the island.

Main opposition Akel on Friday condemned Erdogan’s statements saying “they leave no shred of doubt about Turkey’s plans.”

The party said Erdogan’s approach on a two-state solution was disastrous for the island and its people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and ran contrary to international law and the official international position on a federal solution with political equality.

Akel called on the international community “act decisively” so that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader align with the federal solution framework and stop efforts for the settlement of Varosha.

“The developments prove once again the need for initiatives by President Anastasiades to resume the dialogue on a proper basis and for effectively tackling the Turkish plans for Famagusta,” Akel said. For a real perspective, it added, negotiations will have to resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana in 2017, reaffirming the convergences reached so far and based on the Guterres framework.

Edek said “this repeated Turkish provocation, requires political and economic measures.” The Republic of Cyprus, it added, can do so, and must proceed. The party warned that the longer the government delays, it gives Turkey time and room to implement its plans.

Anastasiades will on Saturday evening be the keynote speaker at the annual anti-occupation event organised by the Famagusta municipality in Dherynia.

The municipality’s Akel councillors, justifying the choice of the keynote speaker, said the local authority could not have acted differently since Anastasiades is the one directly in charge of handling the Cyprus problem and, by extension, the issue of Famagusta.

They said that though they too feel the sadness, frustration and anger of the Varosha refugees over the fact that the current government has failed to prevent new faits accomplis in Famagusta, this would give Anastasiades the chance “to first-hand hear the concerns, bitterness and anger of the Famagustans.”