The fenced-off area of Famagusta has once again come to the foreground of peripheral discussions, as the sides remain stuck in the mud, awaiting the return of the UN envoy.
The government on Monday neither confirmed nor denied media reports saying President Nikos Christodoulides has tabled a proposal to open Varosha under UN administration in exchange for the operation of Famagusta Port under EU supervision.
Famagusta Mayor-in-exile Simos Ioannou said he has long requested the government table a proposal on Varosha, noting the president pledged to do so in a meeting around two months ago.
Speaking to Politis, Ioannou welcomed any such move but acknowledged he has received no relevant briefing from the presidential palace. He argued that the package proposal on Famagusta could be the catalyst that proves intercommunal collaboration possible, ultimately leading to a settlement. However, he had low expectations, noting agreement on crossing points was not even possible at present.
Cyclical return of Varosha
The return of Varosha to the media cycle was sparked by an article in Phileleftheros on Sunday, stating that Christodoulides tabled Famagusta for discussion in a “bold” move that could not only break the deadlock but also kickstart efforts for a comprehensive settlement.
The paper notes the latest proposal – largely based on a previous idea tabled in 2006 during the Finnish EU Presidency – is part of a package of new ideas proposed by Christodoulides on a range of issues.
Under the original proposal advanced in October-November 2006, the fenced-off area of Varosha would have been transferred to UN administration, eventually allowing the return of its lawful inhabitants, while Famagusta port would have temporarily operated under EU supervision, facilitating direct Turkish Cypriot-EU trade. In return, Turkey would have opened some ports, and possibly airports, to Cypriot ships and aircraft as part of efforts to avert a crisis in Ankara's EU accession process. The proposal ultimately collapsed.
Asked to comment on CyBC’s Trito radio programme on Monday, head of the President’s press office Victoras Papadopoulos reminded that Christodoulides had tabled 19 proposals on different issues at the last leaders’ meeting on 17 September, the contents of which he could not divulge. To protect the peace effort underway, Papadopoulos said he would neither confirm nor deny the report, though he did say the two Cypriot negotiators will meet this week.
