Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-08-14

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] FAMAGUSTA - SECOND TURKISH OFFENSIVE

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT - CYPRUS ISSUE

[01] FAMAGUSTA - SECOND TURKISH OFFENSIVE

Following an ultimatum from Ankara to Cyprus, during the Geneva peace talks after Turkeys invasion on July 20, 1974, the Turkish military launched its second attack on August 14, which resulted in the occupation not only of Famagusta but also of nearly 37% of the islands territory with devastating consequences.

Some 200,000 Greek Cypriots had to flee for their lives, uprooted from their homes and properties, thousands were killed during the hostilities, more than 1500 were listed as missing, not to mention the near collapse of the countrys economy with 70% of the countrys economic capacity coming under the control of the invading forces, which compelled thousands of Greek Cypriots to seek a living abroad.

Turkey, which aspires to join the European Union, continues to occupy Cyprus northern part, refuses to comply with UN and EU calls to withdraw its occupation troops, ignores appeals to provide information from its military archives on missing persons and threatens to work for international recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime it maintains in occupied Cyprus.

The UN hold Ankara responsible for the fenced off area of Famagusta (Varosha) and has repeatedly called for the transfer of the town to UN administration. UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers 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.

Addressing an anti-occupation rally, organized by Famagusta municipality, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has assured that irrespective of developments in the UN-led peace talks for a political settlement, he will continue to raise, as a priority issue, the return of the occupied town to its legitimate inhabitants.

He said the rally is an expression of Famagusta people not to compromise but to continue their struggle until they are vindicated.

I am and shall remain to stand by your side. I shall continue to struggle until our will materializes. Famagusta remains at the centre of efforts for a solution, he stressed.

He recalled a three-tier proposal he has submitted to the negotiating table, which focused on the return of the fenced off areas of Famagusta (Varosha) to its legitimate inhabitants, under UN auspices. Such a development, the President pointed out, would give a boost to the talks, benefit Greek and Turkish Cypriots, salvage the town from destruction and can help Turkeys EU accession course.

Echoing the Presidents sentiments, Famagusta Mayor Alexis Galanos said the plight of Famagusta is telling proof of Turkeys designs against Cyprus, adding that the continuing occupation of this city, now a deserted ghost town abandoned to the elements, exposes Ankara.

Galanos has urged European states to intervene in the direction of Turkey to implement UN resolutions, pointing out that it is an affront to tolerate a country - which claims to be a civilized European nation - behaving in this manner.

Turkey, using as a pretext the July 15 military coup against the legal government of the Republic of Cyprus led by the late Archbishop Makarios III, invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974, claiming it was acting in line with the 1960 treaties that established the independent Republic, to restore the constitutional order. Thirty-seven years on, Turkish troops continue to occupy the islands northern part, encouraging if not dictating to the Turkish Cypriot community positions and demands outside the agreed framework for a solution.

Two agreements in the 1970s and UN resolutions provide this framework, which stipulates that the solution must be a bicommunal bizonal federation, with one citizenship, one international personality and a single sovereignty, with respect to human rights of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

The latest round of UN-led peace talks, which began in September 2008, between President Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, continue with a view to reaching a mutually agreed solution. However, as often stated by the political leadership, solution prospects are not what had been anticipated due to the intransigent and unacceptable positions and demands the Turkish Cypriot side puts forward at the negotiating table.

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT - CYPRUS ISSUE

He noted that the proposals of the Turkish side provide for the dissolution of the Republic of Cyprus, the establishment of two equal state entities, a loose confederation, the maintaining of Turkeys strategic control of Cyprus through guarantees and the revival of the Annan plan under a different name, a UN-proposed solution plan, the product of arbitration, rejected by the overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriots and approved by a majority of Turkish Cypriots. Moreover they provide for a settlement which will become EU Primary Law, to allow permanent derogations from the acquis communautaire, permanent violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Omirou added.

Omirou stressed that the Greek Cypriot side must move towards three directions. It must inform the international and European community about Turkish manoeuvres and pinpoint the intransigence of the Turkish side, which does not allow any progress. We must warn that if there are no effective interventions and pressures in the direction of Turkey, the process of the talks will fail, he added. He said that tactics at the negotiating table and the strategy in the overall handling of the Cyprus problem must be reviewed.

Omirou stressed that Turkeys European course must be the basic lever of pressure and the main weapon to convince Turkey to rationalize its behaviour and comply with international and European law. What we have to do is to follow a strategy that will make clear to our partners that Turkeys accession talks with the EU cannot move on if Turkey refuses to fulfill its obligations toward the Republic of Cyprus, which include its obligation to cooperate for a settlement on the basis of UN resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded, he added.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article