Varosha briefing for visiting Italian MP

An Italian MP met officials in Nicosia on Monday as he prepares a report about Turkey’s occupation of Varosha for the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Piero Fassino, rapporteur for PACE’s committee on political affairs and democracy, is preparing a report on “Call for return of Famagusta to its lawful residents”.

In Cyprus until June 8, his meetings on Monday included attorney general Giorgos Savvides, House president Anita Demetriou and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

According to a press release, Savvides underlined the importance of Fassino’s visit — especially at this juncture, to record Turkey’s illegal actions in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus and in particular, in the fenced off area of Varosha.

He outlined the legal aspect of the issue and the consequences of the illegal opening of Varosha, while pointing out the violation of UN Security Council Resolutions on Cyprus, as well as the violation of the property rights of the legitimate residents of Famagusta.

He also referred to the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which demonstrated the continuous violations of international law and human rights by Turkey.

For her part, Demetriou briefed Fassino about the latest provocative actions in Famagusta by the Turkish Cypriot leadership and the Erdogan government.

Demetriou added that “just as the entire European community stands by Ukraine and against Russia, as the latter is clearly acting against the international law, we ask the EU to support Cyprus, after half a century of illegal actions by Turkey, which have peaked with its latest actions in Varosha”.

During his visit to Cyprus, Fassino is also expected to meet with representatives of the island’s political parties, the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Harris Georgiades, the Cypriot delegation to PACE and the mayor and the municipal council of Famagusta, in Derynia.

According to a PACE press release said that Fassino will also travel to the “northern part of the island” to meet with representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community and visit Varosha.