The European Union on Tuesday condemned the decision by the authorities of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to open to the public the coastal area of Varosha, annexed after the intervention of the Turkish army in 1974. “
L 'The EU is very concerned about today's announcements and developments concerning Varosha
,' said European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell.
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"
These events will cause increased tensions and risk complicating the efforts to resume talks on the settlement of the Cyprus question
," he said.
Josep Borrell insisted on "
the urgency of restoring confidence and not of creating greater divisions
".
EU leaders pledged, at their summit on October 1 and 2, to support efforts to allow the resumption of talks under the aegis of the United Nations, he recalled.
"
Pearl
" of Cyprus which became a ghost town after the intervention of the Turkish army, the seaside resort of Varosha is part of the agglomeration of Famagusta, in the east of the island.
It was abandoned after being surrounded by fences by the Turkish military.
The decision to reopen it to the public was announced by the "
Prime Minister
" of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ersin Tatar, during a visit to Ankara days before a "
presidential
"
election
in Cyprus. -North scheduled for October 11.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at odds with the EU, welcomed Mr. Tatar's decision.
"
Varosha is unquestionably a Turkish-Cypriot territory and any decision concerning it rests with the Turkish-Cypriot authorities
," he said.
EU member Republic of Cyprus, which controls the southern two-thirds of the island, "
strongly condemned the decision of the Turkish occupier, and its approval by Ersin Tatar, to extend the entry permit in the coastal zone of Varosha, a pre-electoral scheme created by Ankara
”.
This "
illegal and provocative action by Turkey will be denounced before the UN Security Council, the European Union and the international community as an act violating international law, UN resolutions and the conclusions of the European Council
" Cypriot-Greek government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said in a statement.
