The reaction of the people of Famagusta should be dynamic and mainly organized under the municipality in case the reports for the opening of the enclosed city are finally verified. This was the message that the mayor of the city, Alexis Galanos, will seek to send at the press conference he will hold today to inform the citizens of the occupied city.
The reports from the occupied territories maintain the issue, however, from the Greek Cypriot side, the possibility of opening the enclosed city is considered remote. At the same time, however, there can be no complacency as there are fears of Turkish settlement plans in the city. What seems to exist at the moment is the maintenance of the issue by business circles in Turkey but also in the occupied territories, who see Varosi as a business opportunity for investment.
The mayor of Famagusta, Alexis Galanos, had a meeting yesterday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulidis, and the Government Spokesman, in the context of his contacts for information on the issue of Famagusta and the intentions of the government.
What was mentioned at the meeting, according to the information, is that the government is working feverishly to prepare a package of measures regarding the information for a unilateral opening move of Famagusta from the Turkish side. As mentioned, the government will raise the issue of Famagusta as a matter of priority, but as explicitly stated, through the relevant UN resolutions. Through the legal arguments that are being prepared in the document of the Republic of Cyprus for Famagusta, a historical review of the reports concerning the occupied city is made, through which the position of our side is evident, as mentioned from the beginning by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that any Unilateral traffic scenarios for Famagusta beyond the return of the city under Greek Cypriot administration, will be an extension of the occupation.
Also important by the government and the municipality of their occupied city Evagoras, the way of reaction of the citizens in case the occupation regime finally proceeds to the opening of the enclosed city. This message will be conveyed by the mayor together with the municipal council to the citizens, who in cooperation will have to react in an organized way, in order to prevent any Turkish plans.
The Turkish Cypriot newspaper Yeni Duzen in yesterday's article refers to statements by the President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Fikri Toros, who speaks of a package of confidence-building measures after the failure of the negotiations in Switzerland.
It is also reported that the issue of the opening of Varos was discussed during the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşo .lu to the occupied territories, adding that apart from statements by Serdar Denktaş on this issue, no one was informed about the decision taken. The report also states that Toros confirmed that studies had been carried out on the opening of Varos and that Turkish Cypriot negotiator τίzdil Nami had referred to the issue. "It is not known when and how Varosia will open, under what regime and how this will affect the Cyprus problem. "But what is certain is that a step will be taken for Varosia," the article reads.
He goes on to say that negotiations for a "comprehensive solution" have collapsed and that, as Alvaro de Soto did in 2004, Eide is now leaving Cyprus.
At this time when everything is in the air, he says, the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey are taking new steps in order to send a positive message to the world. This message, which began with the announcement of the return of the Maronites, contains, according to the article, the following measures:
1. Ensuring the return of Maronites to their villages.
2. The opening (in a way) of Varosia.
3. Strengthen the "compensation committee" and encourage the increase of Greek Cypriot applications.
4. Opening of new roadblocks, mainly those of Lefka and Deryneia.
5. Actions so that commercial vehicles bearing the "TRNC" plates can cross the "south".
6. Efforts to transfer the water transported from Turkey to the "south".
These proposals, according to the publication, are proposals of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, however, as he notes, it is understood that they are included in Akinci's agenda.
Finally, Yeni Duzen's article adds that the messages given after Mustafa Akinci's meeting with the "compensation committee are proof that there is mobility for this package".
Source: Liberal