Famagusta becomes key to Cyprus reunification

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias outlined a proposal yesterday (11 October) that could speed up the island's reunification talks by opening the port of Famagusta, which is now a ghost city, to international trade.

Varosha, a district in the city of Famagusta, located in the occupied Turkish part of the island, could hold the key to talks on the reunification of Cyprus, Christofias suggested.

If Turkey returns Varosha to the UN, the Republic of Cyprus will give the green-light to open the port of Famagusta to commercial transactions with the EU, he said. Both Varosha and Famagusta, now 'ghost cities', would be restored with EU support as part of the common heritage of both communities.

The president of Cyprus made the comments in a speech at the official dinner he gave for European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, who is visiting the divided island.

If successful, the compromise could also unblock Turkey's stalled EU accession talks.

The northern part of Cyprus, occupied by Turkey since 1974, is politically isolated and is banned from direct trade with the EU. In a tit-for-tat response, Turkey bans ships and airplanes from the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state which it does not recognise, from using its ports and airports.

Speaking to EURACTIV recently, Turkey's chief negotiator Egemen Ba??? said that his country would open its ports and airports "tomorrow" if the European Council decision of April 2004 were implemented.

"If Spanish, Dutch, German and French planes land at Ercan airport [in Northern Cyprus], if other European ships unload containers in Northern Cyprus, then Greek Cypriot planes and vessels are welcome to come," Ba??? said.

Cyprus President Christofias, who is conducting difficult reunification talks under the auspices of the UN with Dervi? Ero?lu, president of the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', thanked Buzek for his support in seeking a "creative" solution.

Buzek is visiting both parts of the divided island and is holding talks with its leaders, including Ero?lu.

'Ankara holds the key'

"I am sure that you have heard from our side the phrase that 'Ankara holds the key to the solution of the Cyprus problem'," Christofias said. "This phrase is the substance of the solution to the Cyprus problem."

"Ankara holds the key to the solution since the withdrawal of occupation troops, the end of illegal settlement and the solution to the extremely important aspect of Security depend on Ankara. It is inconceivable for an EU candidate country to occupy and refuse to recognise an EU member state," Christofias added.

The president of Cyprus added that the return of Varosha and Famagusta to international trade would be followed by an international conference on Cyprus, with EU participation.

Speaking before the parliament in Nicosia, Buzek said he hoped Turkey would actively support reunification negotiations and contribute in concrete terms to a lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue.

"A solution to the Cyprus problem is within your reach," Buzek said. "A mere sixty kilometres from where we are today lies the city of Famagusta. In its day, it was one of the wealthiest spots in the eastern Mediterranean and its Varosha quarter counted among the top tourist destinations in Cyprus, if not Europe." 

Since 1974 Varosha has stood abandoned, frozen in time, a ghost town full of empty hotels. 

"Famagusta is a symbol of both today's failure and possible future success. It illustrates the immense potential that a unified Cyprus could unlock," Buzek stated.

The Turkish press quoted Buzek as saying that the European Parliament was expected to decide on direct trade with the northern part of Cyprus in the coming months.

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