CNA
The EU is aware of the announcements made as regards the fenced off city of Famagusta (Varosha), reiterates the significance of the Varosha status and asks for the full respect of the UN Security Council resolutions, and particularly resolutions 550, 789 and 1251, an EU official has said.
He added that the EU “continues to follow developments as regards the current visit of Turkish President Erdogan” to the occupied areas of Cyprus, and that “the EU position on the Cyprus problem is clear, as has been confirmed by the EU leaders during their recent meeting in June (European Council).
Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a โghost townโ.
Turkey invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974. Numerous UN backed talks to reunite the island have failed to yield results.
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. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges 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.
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar announced on Tuesday a partial lifting of the military status in Varosha.
On October 8, 2020, the Turkish side opened part of the fenced area of Varosha, following an announcement made in Ankara on October 6. Both the UN Secretary-General and the EU expressed concern, while the UN Security Council called for the reversal of this course of action.
