President and Greek Premier coordinate actions

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis coordinated their actions in the light of the Turkish provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean, Government Spokesman in Nicosia Kyriakos Koushos said.

Anastasiades and Mitsotakis had a working lunch at the Premier`s residence in Athens.

In a written statement the Spokesperson said that the two men discussed the situation in detail and also exchanged views on the Cyprus problem in light of the UNSG`s statement that he is ready to convene a five party Conference on Cyprus and the upcoming European Council.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest UN backed round of talks took place in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana but failed to yield any results.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayip Erdogan and former “prime minister” of the Turkish Cypriot puppet regime Ersin Tatar recently announced the opening of part of the beach of the abandoned town of Famagusta and went ahead with it, in violation of numerous UN resolutions.

Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘ghost town’. UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.

The UN Security Council expressed on October 10 its deep concern regarding the announcement in Ankara on 6 October to open the coastline of Varosha and has called for the reversal of this course of action, and for the avoidance of any unilateral actions that could raise tensions on the island.