The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, denounced on Wednesday 7 October the decision of the so-called ‘Prime Minister’ of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ersin Tatar, supported by Turkey, to reopen the Varosha coastal area in the north of the island to the public from this Thursday.
This area became a ghost town after the Turkish invasion in 1974 and its enclosure by the Turkish military. The TRNC and its leaders are recognised only by Turkey.
“Opening up this area, which is a closed area according to the ceasefire agreements under the auspices of the United Nations is a serious violation of this agreement”, Borrell told the European Parliament. He called on Turkey to stop this activity.
According to him, this decision will increase tensions and make it more difficult to reach an agreement on a “particularly difficult situation” in the eastern Mediterranean.
The previous day, in a statement, he had already explained that the announcement would lead to increased tensions and could complicate efforts to resume the Cyprus settlement talks. “What is urgent now is to rebuild trust, and not to create greater divisions”, he warned. The High Representative added that full respect of relevant UN Security Council resolutions was essential.
Mr Borrell said that the EU was in close contact with the UN and was closely following the situation on the ground. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)