Nicosia: Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots from Famagusta have called upon the UN Secretary General "to place the implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Famagusta at the heart" of his new initiative on Cyprus, "as the first substantive step toward resolving the Cyprus issue".
According to Cyprus News Agency, in a Memorandum to the UNSG, who is expected to visit Cyprus between 27 and 29 of July, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, residents of Famagusta, stress that "with hope and expectation, we, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot residents of Famagusta, welcome you to Cyprus. We sincerely hope that your new initiative will encourage the leaders of the two communities to resume a meaningful peace process and to travel the final mile toward a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within a short timeframe."
"We address you with a common appeal. Famagusta represents a unique case within the Cyprus issue. It is the only major urban area that has remained uninhabited for half a century and for which clear United Nations Security Council resolutions exist. At the same time, for decades it has been a central point of reference in nearly every United Nations confidence-building initiative between the two communities," they underline.
They add that "we call upon you to place the implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Famagusta at the heart of your new initiative on Cyprus, as the first substantive step toward resolving the Cyprus issue."
The memorandum further highlights, "that the return of the city of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants would benefit not only those directly concerned. The revival of a historic city, the restoration of its economic and social life, cooperation between the two communities, and the creation of a new climate of trust can benefit the whole of Cyprus."
"Famagusta is not a prize to be won by one community at the expense of the other. It can become the first major shared step toward the reunification of Cyprus after half a century of division and the beginning of a new dynamic. It is not the purpose of this initiative to prescribe the specific measures that should follow, nor to prejudge the relevant negotiations."
They believe, however, "that the return of the city can and should be accompanied by corresponding initiatives that strengthen communication, economic cooperation, freedom of movement, and the prosperity of both communities, thereby creating the necessary climate of confidence for the next mutually beneficial steps toward a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, on the basis of the United Nations resolutions and the convergences achieved to date."
"Our joint presence and our common voice demonstrate that the people of the same city can work together, trust one another, and share a common vision for the future," they say in the Memorandum.
Finally, they express the hope "that our appeal will receive a positive response, on the basis of a mutually constructive approach by both sides, aimed at the swift resolution of the Cyprus issue for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the island."
"May Famagusta become the first symbol of the solution to the Cyprus issue," they conclude.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when 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'.
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.
After the opening for visitors of part of the fenced area of Varosha in 2020, following announcements by the Turkish side, the UN and the Secretary-General called on several occasions for the immediate reversal of the action taken, while pointing to a lack of progress in this regard. The EU has also expressed concern.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.