The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, warned, on Tuesday 27 July, that EU ministers will consider “actions” at their next meeting “in case of non-reversal of Turkey’s actions contrary to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions 550/84 and 789/92” on Cyprus.
The ministers will meet again on 2 and 3 September for an informal meeting.
These UN resolutions consider attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible, and call for the transfer of that area to the administration of the UN.
In a statement on behalf of the EU, the High Representative strongly condemned the unilateral steps taken by Ankara and the “unacceptable” announcements by the Turkish President and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community on 20 July regarding the reopening of the fenced-off town of Varosha.
Stressing that the EU would continue to hold the Turkish government responsible for the situation in Varosha, he warned that the EU was ready to use “the instruments and options at its disposal to defend its interests and those of its Member States as well as to uphold regional stability”.
“No actions should be carried out in relation to Varosha that are not in accordance” with UNSC resolutions, Mr Borrell also stressed, adding that full respect for and implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions also require an immediate end to restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in the Varosha area.
“The EU once again underlines the need to avoid unilateral actions in breach of international law and renewed provocations, which could raise tensions on the island and compromise the ongoing efforts to seek common ground between the parties towards a lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue in line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions”, the High Representative added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)