The government has called on Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman to help find ways to implement “bold” confidence-building measures (CBM) like opening Varosha while simultaneously putting Famagusta Port under EU supervision.
Ahead of tomorrow’s leaders’ meeting at the UN Good Offices, President Nikos Christodoulides met on Monday with Famagusta Mayor-in-exile Simos Ioannou and his municipal council at the Presidential Palace.
Welcoming the municipal council, the president highlighted that his proposal on the fenced-off part of Famagusta is not an old proposal but builds on previous discussions.
He noted that after considering the proposal, Erhürman rejected it at their previous meeting last Tuesday. “But it is not off the table,” he added.
Christodoulides said he wished to discuss with the Famagusta municipal council how to enrich the proposal on opening Varosha to get a positive result on such a “bold” CBM that could open the path to resolving the Cyprus issue.
The president noted that he also tabled proposals for new crossing points, which he hoped to achieve progress on in today’s meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader.
Additionally, he highlighted that the Interior Ministry budget includes €700,000 for the construction of a new Famagusta Municipal Hall.
Push for Famagusta proposal
Speaking after the meeting, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the Famagusta municipal council welcomed the proposal to open Varosha to its inhabitants and pledged to develop it further and seek its acceptance.
Letymbiotis added: “We insist that this proposal can be utilised. It can and should be discussed, including in the presence of the Secretary-General’s personal envoy.”
Asked by a reporter about Erhürman’s rejection of the proposal, based on the argument that it does not include immediate implementation of the EU’s Direct Trade Regulation, the spokesperson highlighted that the proposal involves returning the fenced area of Famagusta, based on UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789, while simultaneously operating Famagusta Port under European Commission supervision.
“These benefits can be immediate,” he said, noting that the proposal will provide Turkish Cypriots with access to markets that they currently do not have access to.
No Ankara Protocol
Unlike previous versions, this proposal does not include reference to implementation of the Ankara Protocol which requires Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cyprus Republic aircraft and vessels, he further noted.
Letymbiotis called on the two leaders to have a productive and in-depth discussion on how to implement the proposal in the presence of UN Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín.
He also acknowledged that as part of the president’s 19 proposals, he has recommended opening new crossing points that have not been discussed previously.
Diagne-Christodoulides talk UNFICYP
Christodoulides also met on Monday with UNFICYP head of mission Khassim Diagne. Letymbiotis said the president had the chance to exchange views on next steps in the effort to resume negotiations ahead of Holguín’s arrival on Thursday.
He noted that Holguín will meet with the president the day after, on Friday, while a trilateral is planned with the two leaders for 9 November.
Speaking to Politis, UNFICYP spokesperson Aleem Siddique said Monday’s routine meeting “focused on the Secretary-General’s report regarding UNFICYP operations over the last six months”.
Diagne briefed Christodoulides on the draft UNFICYP report, as he did Erhürman the previous Monday. The UNFICYP report will be shared with the UN Security Council in early January, as will a second six-monthly report on the UN Good Offices mission. Meanwhile, UNFICYP’s annual mandate is due for renewal on 31 January 2027.
