Dendias urges EU to signal 'red lines' against Turkey regarding illegal opening of Varosha

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, in a doorstep statement as he arrived at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, expressed hope that the meeting will indicate to Turkey where the EU draws "red lines" with regard to Varosha.

Dendias stated: "Today, on the 38th anniversary of the proclamation of the pseudo-state in northern Cyprus, the Council will discuss the options paper, which will be presented by HRVP Joseph Borrell, in order to indicate - I hope - to Turkey the 'red lines' on the issue of Varosha."

"I hope there will be a European reply today to Turkey's unlawful behaviour and its attempt to disregard the decisions of the UN Security Council," he added.

Earlier this morning, on the margins of the Council, Dendias organised a working breakfast on behalf of the Chairmanship-in-Office of the South East European Cooperation Process.

Varosha, a southern suburb of the city of Famagusta, has been a ghost town since Turkey's 1974 illegal invasion of Northern Cyprus.

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.

Turkey instead has begun the process of opening Varosha.

READ MORE: Turkey begins opening Varosha in occupied Cyprus – Organised beaches with palm trees.