A photo exhibition about Turkish occupied Famagusta will be presented in Brussels by the Municipality of the occupied city, entitled “We are together for one homeland, for a common future” and will take place in Brussels from February 28 to March 3.
Addressing a press conference Famagusta Mayor, Simos Ioannou, said that the main purpose of the mission of the Municipality of Famagusta to Brussels, in the context of which the photo exhibition is being organised, is to promote the issue of Famagusta in the European Parliament (EP) and denounce Turkey’s illegal actions in the fenced off section of Famagusta, in the last three years. “We ask for the support of the EP and the European Union (EU), of which Cyprus is a member state,” he added.
Ioannou said that the photo exhibition presents the life of Famagusta residents before 1974, as well as the current state of the city. He further noted that the photographic material belongs to the photojournalist and cinematographer Tasos Demetriades and includes 48 double photographs of Famagusta’s past and present, i.e. a total of 96 photographs.
The Mayor of Famagusta pointed out that the mission of the Municipality of Famagusta to Brussels resulted from the desire and emotion of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who requested that the event is hosted in Brussels and will be present at the event and will deliver a short speech.
He also noted that the event will be opened by MEP Giorgos Georgiou and will be followed by the presentation of two young people from Famagusta, Pieros Karoullas and Hakan Çoban, and a short speech by the Mayor of the city. The event will be closed by Roberta Metsola.
Furthermore, Ioannou said that the photo exhibition, which will last for three days, is under the auspices of MEP Giorgos Georgiou and has the support of the rest of the Cypriot MEPs.
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.
Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, announced in July 2021 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. In his latest report to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General Guterres underlines the importance of adhering fully to UN resolutions, underscoring that the position of the United Nations on this matter “remains unchanged.”
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