Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will brief the EU leaders on the new provocations by Turkey in the fenced off town of Varosha, during the upcoming European Council, between 30-31 May, in Brussels, government spokesman Marios Pelekanos told the Cyprus News Agency.
The President will note that once again Turkey acts unilaterally in Varosha by extending the beachfront within the fenced off town, Pelekanos said.
He added that Anastasiades will brief the EU leaders generally on Turkish provocative acts during the last period and will ask his counterparts, who are in negotiations with Turkey, to underline the need to stay away from tensions and to show self-restraint.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 since Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta is often described as a “ghost town”, and the UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) urged that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus, should be extended to include Varosha.
Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, announced in July 2021 a partial lifting of the military status in Varosha and 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.
Source: Cyprus News Agency