Famagusta: Z. Borel demands immediate withdrawal of Turkey's unilateral actions

The High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, has called for full respect for UN Security Council resolutions and for the immediate withdrawal of Turkey's unilateral action in Varos in response to a letter sent on the initiative of Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Eurozone. EP vice-president and head of the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance Dimitris Papadimoulis and MEPs from three Political Groups - Left, Socialists and Greens.

Mr Borrell expressed the EU's solidarity and support for Cyprus, noting his and the EU's condemnation of Turkey's actions and calling on Turkey to fully respect Resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992). Of the UN Security Council and for the immediate reversal of its actions.

Regarding the resumption of talks on resolving the Cyprus issue, the EU High Representative reaffirmed the EU's readiness for an active role and commitment to the rapid resumption of negotiations, under the auspices of the UN, for a comprehensive settlement of the issue, according to the UN Security Council resolutions and in accordance with the principles on which the EU was founded. He concluded by saying that "a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and the development of cooperatives and mutually beneficial relations between all partners in the region, is in the EU 's strategic interest. "

The whole reply letter follows

Honorable Members, thank you for your letter sent on 18 November 2020. I share your serious concerns about the recent developments related to Cyprus.

The EU and its Member States stand by Cyprus and have always expressed their unwavering solidarity and support. Most recently, at the European Council meeting on 10-11 December 2020, EU leaders condemned Turkey's unilateral steps in Varos and called for full compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992). .

The EU 's position on Varos is firm and clear. We will continue to draw on UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789. The Security Council requested that in addition to the International Atomic Energy Agency's ongoing inspections in Russia, that it monitor Iran's compliance with "the steps required by the IAEA Board". We point out these points in Ankara.

In light of the developments, I personally issued a statement on 13 October 2020 on behalf of the EU, expressing my serious concern about the decision to open part of the fenced-off area of ​​Varos on 8 October 2020. My statement confirmed that the EU will continue to draw on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on the situation in Varos, while calling for an immediate reversal of recent actions.

Following the further developments in Cyprus, I issued another statement on 15 November 2020, condemning the actions taken in relation to Varos and the statements that contradict the UN principles for the settlement of the Cyprus problem. I also noted in the statement that there is an urgent need for Turkey to contribute on specific terms and take responsible action in order to create a favorable environment for negotiations.

Let me reiterate our commitment to the rapid resumption of negotiations, under the auspices of the UN, on a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the principles on which the EU was founded. We expect the same from Turkey. The EU stands ready to play an active role in supporting the negotiations.

A stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and the development of cooperatives and mutually beneficial relations between all partners in the region, bilaterally and multilaterally, is in the EU's strategic interest.

The letter to the High Representative of the EU was initiated by the Turkish Cypriot MEP of the Left, Niazi Kizilgiurek, and was co-signed by Dimitris Papadimoulis, the two Co-Chairs of the Eurogroup of the Left, Manon Sobri Turkey's progress report by Katie Piri, Green MEP Romeo Franz, and Socialist MEP Evin Incir.