Turkey’s actions in Varos undermine Cyprus exploration talks

The “carrot” provided to Erdogan by Berlin and Brussels at last week’s summit was not enough to appease the Turkish leader, who, before the ink of the Conclusions dried, returned with a new challenge: the illegal opening of the beach . of Varosia, which is already provoking strong reactions, with Nicosia appealing to the Security Council, requesting discussion of the issue under Article 35 of the UN Charter.

However, the Turkish measure undermines the climate not only for Cypriots but also for Greek-Turks, as it makes the Dendia-Tsavousoglou meeting in Bratislava difficult under the current circumstances and increases mistrust in determining the start date of the investigations.

A measure that stands in stark contrast to the two United Nations resolutions 550 and 789 that established the return of the Varosians to their legitimate inhabitants and in which the resolutions had been explicitly mentioned in the Summit Conclusions.

However, with this measure, Mr. Erdogan, and while everyone waited for Turkey to proceed with the de-escalation that seems to have been promised to A. Merkel, not only did it maintain the Barbaros investigation in the Cypriot EEZ, but also proceeded with the solemn announcement about Varosia. This option undermines any attempt to resume the talks on the Cyprus question, which were planned by the international community and the UN Secretary-General himself to be launched immediately after the end of the “presidential” elections in the pseudo-state, the second round of which will have place next Sunday.

It is obvious that in this climate and under the imposition of new executions this time on the ground, the Cypriot government cannot engage in talks. Especially when the Varos issue is not only related to two critical decisions of the UN Security Council, which the Greek Cypriot side cannot allow to be thrown away, but at the same time Ankara and its subordinates in the Occupied Territories demonstrate that they will not doubt. to upset the difficult balances of decades to blackmail the Greek Cypriot side before the talks even begin.

With the interventions in Varosia, which currently affect the coastal area, as the rest of the area is a military area under the control of the Turkish occupation troops and there must be a special process, it is practically the first step to reverse the discussions and negotiations so far. for the Territorial, the chapter that mainly concerns the Greek Cypriot side and is perhaps the only incentive for the acceptance of a still difficult form of solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Erdogan yesterday wanted to send his message to the Turkish Cypriots that Ankara’s choice is E. Tatar (who is currently going through a difficult time as polls show with Mr. Akinci at the helm) and that with him as leader Turkish Cypriots must wait for the help of the “fatherland”. At their meeting in Turkey, they also announced the repair of Turkey’s water pipes to the Occupied Territories, a project with a strong emphasis on the logic of annexation.

The Turkish president said that “the Turkish Cypriots made an attempt to pay the cost of the non-solution and the city of Varosia remained closed as part of this impasse.” After the multilateral talks that took place in 2017, it was observed that there is no longer a possibility of a comprehensive solution in Cyprus. We decided to build the future of Cyprus on hard facts rather than dreams. It is indisputable that Famagusta is a “TRNC” area. The right to use it also belongs to the Turkish Cypriot authorities. “

To avoid unilateral actions that could generate tensions on the island and undermine the return to dialogue or the future success of the talks, the UN Secretary General said:

“The Secretary General is concerned about the announcement made today about the opening of the beach / coast of Varosia. He recalled that the United Nations position on Varos remains unchanged and is guided by the relevant decisions of the Security Council.

End “It calls on all parties to enter into a dialogue to resolve their differences and reiterates its willingness to bring the parties together.”

The National Council chaired by N. Anastasiadis met in Nicosia and condemned the Turkish movement in Varosia.

The Greek Foreign Ministry in a statement “strongly condemns Turkey’s decision to extend the entry permit to the Varosia waterfront” and added that “this decision is a clear violation of the UN Security Council Resolutions and Greece will strengthen all relevant efforts of the Republic of Cyprus “, while Nikos Dendias had a telephone conversation with N. Christodoulidis.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, one of the proponents of political calm in Turkey, said today that the EU is deeply concerned about the current announcements and developments in Varos and that the EU would be in close contact with the United Nations. and it will closely monitor the situation on the ground.

“The events in Varosha will cause further tensions and may complicate efforts to resume talks to resolve the Cyprus problem. What is urgent now is to rebuild trust and not create further divisions,” Borrell said.