Deryneia: The annual anti-occupation event organized by the Municipality of Famagusta is set to take place on Saturday evening, featuring President Nikos Christodoulides as the main speaker. The gathering, scheduled for 20:00, will be held at the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Famagusta in Deryneia. It will also be attended by the President of the Parliament, political party leaders, MPs, and other officials.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Municipality has planned a march to the Deryneia crossing point before the main event. During this march, a resolution adopted by the Famagusta Municipal Council will be delivered to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). This resolution marks the 51st anniversary of the occupation of Famagusta by Turkish troops.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. Varosha, a fenced-off section of the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta, is often referred to as a ‘ghost town’. UN Security Council resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992) call for the transfer of this area to UN administration and urge the extension of UN control to include Varosha.
On October 8, 2020, the Turkish side partially opened the fenced area of Varosha, following an announcement made in Ankara. In July 2021, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar announced a further partial lifting of the military status in Varosha. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted in his latest UNFICYP report that no steps have been taken to address the Security Council’s call in 2024 for the immediate reversal of actions taken since October 2020. The European Union has also expressed concern over these developments.