Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the partial reopening of Famagusta during his announcements from the pseudo-state of occupied Northern Cyprus.
3.5% of Famagusta, which is a militarised area following the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus in 1974, is opening.
According to SKAI, the properties of Greek Cypriot refugees will be returned to their owners through a Commission they have set up.
The announcement concerns a very small area of the occupied city, specifically Varosha, corresponding to a few houses.
The Security Council adopted a resolution in 1984 which said any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its original inhabitants is “inadmissible.”
It called “for the transfer of that area to the administration of the United Nations.”
A 1992 resolution reaffirmed the 1984 resolution and called for Varosha to be put under control of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Cyprus – but that has not happened.
Erdoğan argued that the opening of the area would be done with respect for the rights of the owners of property.
During his inflammatory speech, the Turkish President, in the presence of the Turkish-speaking Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, called on the Republic of Cyprus to apply to the commission to have properties returned.
This however is only on the condition that they recognise the Turkish Cypriot administration as a legitimate authority.
Erdoğan even went onto claim that the Republic of Cyprus “are not honest with us.”
The Turkish president also attacked the European Union, saying “we will not take their advice. We will do what we have to do.”
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