PACE Adopts Resolution on the Return of Varosha to Its Legal Residents

The Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has approved a resolution by its rapporteur Piero Fassino regarding the return of Varosha's residents to their lawful places of residence.

The resolution was approved by a significant majority of votes, with only Turkish deputies voting against.

MPs from the Greek Cypriot parliamentarians particularly emphasized "the danger posed by Turkey's ongoing unilateral partial opening of the closed city." It is asserted that this situation "has negative consequences" for prolonging the deadlock in the Cyprus issue.

"The fact imposed by the occupying authorities on Varosha has been the worst since the illegal proclamation of the pseudo-state in 1983," said Cypriot parliamentarian George Loucaides, a member of the PACE delegation.

In the parliamentarian's opinion, "Turkey's actions in Famagusta are illegal and contradict UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789, which call for the return of the city to its rightful owners under United Nations administration."

Moreover, the MP believes that the current situation in Famagusta could negatively impact efforts to resume negotiations and achieve a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

The parliamentarian also added that the ongoing division of Cyprus "threatens stability in the Eastern Mediterranean" and affirmed the EU Council's principled position on the reunification of Cyprus and the achievement of a fair, robust, and comprehensive solution that safeguards the legitimate interests of both communities.

The adopted resolution calls for the repeal of Turkey's illegal actions, which are seen as an obstacle to restarting negotiations under the UN framework.

"The resolution considers the only possible solution to be the return of the city to its rightful residents through the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789 or within the framework of a package of confidence-building measures, thereby strengthening efforts towards a comprehensive solution," PACE stated.

Additionally, the resolution expresses support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar to resume negotiations between the two communities.

It is worth noting that Italian parliamentarian Piero Fassino visited the TRNC in mid-May. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe instructed him to write a report on the closed city of Varosha.

Read also: How to get to Varosha?