A non-binding European Parliament resolution "on the escalation of tensions in Varosha following Turkey's illegal actions and the urgent need to resume talks" will be put to the vote from 13:45 to 15:00 (Brussels time). three amendments were adopted yesterday and today, two by the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists) and one by the EPP (European People's Party).
The resolution "condemns Turkey's illegal activities in Varosi", calls on the Turkish Government "to reverse this decision and avoid unilateral actions", calls on the European Council to maintain its unified position against its unilateral and illegal actions To take action and impose severe sanctions in response to Turkey's illegal actions ", recalls that further sanctions" can only be avoided through dialogue, sincere cooperation and concrete progress on the ground "and called for for the reunification of Cyprus under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations ”.
In detail, the resolution condemns Turkey's illegal activities in Varosi, in particular the partial "opening". He stressed that the creation of a new event undermines mutual trust and the prospects for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, adversely modifying the situation on the ground, exacerbating the division and integrating the permanent division of Cyprus. Warns of any change in the status quo in Varosi in violation of the aforementioned UNSC resolutions.
In addition, it urges the Turkish government to reverse this decision and to avoid unilateral actions that could cause further tensions on the island, according to a recent UNHCR appeal, while calling on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus, to return the area of Varosia to its legal residents under the UN Interim Administration in accordance with UNSCR 550 (1984) and to avoid any actions that change the demographic balance on the island through a policy of illegal settlements. He also stresses the need to implement the EU acquis throughout the island, after the resolution of the Cyprus issue.
The EP states that "it is convinced that a lasting solution to the conflict can only be found through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations in the spirit of goodwill and in accordance with international law, and reaffirms its belief that a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem will benefit every country in the region." , mainly Cyprus, Greece and Turkey ”. Calls on the European Council to maintain its unified position on Turkey's unilateral and illegal actions, to take action and to impose severe sanctions in response to Turkey's illegal actions, and recalls that further sanctions can only be avoided through dialogue, sincere cooperation and progress on the ground.
The EP "underlines the call by the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the resumption of negotiations from where they left off in Crans-Montana in 2017 and stresses that this must be done on the basis of the Joint Declaration of the two leaders of 11 February 2014, under the six points of the UN Secretary-General on 30 June 2017, and the convergences reached by the end of the conference ”. It deplores the fact that the Turkish authorities at the highest level favor the two-state solution and urges Turkey to make a concrete commitment to the UN Secretary-General's appeal.
It also reiterates its support for a just, comprehensive and sustainable settlement based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with an international legal personality, sovereignty and citizenship, and political equality between the two communities, as defined by the relevant UNSC resolutions. , in accordance with international law and the EU acquis, and on the basis of respect for the principles on which the Union is founded.
"It expresses its concern that the illegal 'opening' of Varosia is aimed at changing the status of property in the region, thus undermining the prospects for the return of Varosia, as defined by the relevant SAIE resolutions, or through a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem." It urges Turkey to avoid settling in Varosia with people other than its legal residents or to ask legal residents to return to their properties under military occupation.
He also stressed that direct talks under the auspices of the UN on an agreed basis remain the only option to reach a solution that will reunite the island and its people, leading, among other things, to the normalization of relations between Cyprus and Turkey, improved prospects. for the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone between Cyprus and Turkey, and the strengthening of EU-Turkey relations. He called for the start of negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus as soon as possible under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
It also "supports both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities in their efforts for peace and stability and calls on the Commission to implement immediately the second annual action plan to assist the Turkish Cypriot community, with the aim of supporting projects that promote reconciliation and improve infrastructure." environmental protection and economic development ”. Calls, in particular, for the continued and increased support of civil society in both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities, both through the EU assistance program and more structurally as part of the new multiannual financial framework, in particular through citizens, equality, rights and values program.
Calls on the EU and its Member States to play a more active role in the successful conclusion of the UN-sponsored negotiations, including the appointment of a representative to the UN Goodwill Mission, and to coordinate their efforts with the European Parliament to persuade the Turkey to reverse its illegal activities in Varosi.
It also reiterated its support for the territorial integrity of Cyprus and called on EU Member States to oppose any attempts by third countries to recognize a state on the island of Cyprus outside the Republic of Cyprus.
The EP "regrets the statements made by the President of Turkey during his visit to Varos on 15 November 2020, which openly revealed the Ankara roadmap for the illegal settlement of the fenced town and its support for the permanent division of Cyprus ”.
"Calls on Turkey not to engage in unilateral activities, such as illegal exploratory drilling, which further violates the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, threatens to create new accidents in violation of the law of the sea, undermines the repetition of substantive and prospects for a comprehensive solution on the agreed basis, and do not favor good neighborly relations in the region. "
The European Parliament calls on the UN Mission in Cyprus to step up its efforts to monitor developments in Varosi, and instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs political and security policy, as well as to the President, Government and Parliament of Turkey. The results of the voting will be announced at 16:30 local time.
Source: KYPE