Brussels: The Mayor of Famagusta, Simos Ioannou, today expressed his approval of the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions (PETI) for revisiting the issue of the fenced-off area of Famagusta, following a request from the Famagusta Refugees Movement.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Mr. Ioannou thanked PETI members for their support and for placing the issue back on the agenda. He highlighted Famagusta as a symbol of international law violation, noting that Varosha has been under Turkish military occupation since 1974, with no access allowed for its rightful residents.
Mr. Ioannou cited UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789, which oppose the settlement of the area by anyone other than its lawful inhabitants and call for its transfer to UN administration. He mentioned unilateral actions, including the opening of parts of Varosha since 2020, visits by Turkish officials, and decisions for partial openings, which have been condemned by the Security Council and the EU.
He also detailed the actions taken by PETI over the years, including fact-finding missions and reports supporting UN resolutions. Acknowledging Loizos Afxentiou's role in bringing the issue forward, Mr. Ioannou presented a timeline of developments, from the Crans-Montana negotiations to recent announcements about full openings and infrastructure development.
Concluding, Mr. Ioannou invited PETI's President and members to visit Famagusta, emphasizing that such a visit would signal support for the lawful residents, 52 years after the 1974 events.
Loizos Afxentiou, the petitioner, shared his personal experience as a displaced person since 1974, highlighting the ongoing Turkish occupation of over 37% of Cyprus and the suspension of EU acquis in areas outside government control. He presented maps and photos illustrating the ceasefire line and the Varosha area, which remains under Turkish military control.
Mr. Afxentiou described the post-occupation looting and damage to properties, sharing his experiences of being 'arrested' by Turkish forces for entering his own property. He recalled PETI's fact-finding missions and calls for implementing relevant resolutions, noting the area's partial accessibility since 2021 despite UN appeals.
He proposed the creation of a federal area in Famagusta, advocating for the return of lawful residents and the port's reopening as part of a comprehensive Cyprus settlement. Mr. Afxentiou appealed for continued support, emphasizing his long-standing commitment to resolving the issue.
As announced by PETI Chair Bogdan Rzonca, the petition remains open, with further steps anticipated from the European Parliament and Commission. MEPs expressed strong support for Mr. Afxentiou's petition and the return of Famagusta to its lawful residents, calling for substantial EU action on the matter.