OPENING OF FAMAGUSTA

The city of Famagusta is located on the eastern coast of Cyprus. Since the 1974 military invasion of the island by Turkey, the area to the south of the city, Varosha, has been turned into a ghost town due to the fact that it has been sealed off and closed by the Turkish occupying army which, to this day, still maintains a garrison there. During the second phase of the invasion on 14 August 1974, the Turkish air force bombed Famagusta and subsequently the Turkish army seized the town. As a result, its 37.000 Greek Cypriot inhabitants were forced to flee the city. Overall, the Turkish military invasion and occupa- tion in 1974 led to the forcible displacement of more than 180.000 Greek Cypriots thus causing a major humanitarian crisis and a flagrant violation of human rights. Turkey continues to illegally occupy 36,2% of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus and denies the right of return to the forcibly displaced Cypriots. Until 1974, Famagusta was a significant contributor to the economy of Cyprus, exceeding by far its proportional contribution to the island’s national income. Apart from possessing over 50% of the island’s total holiday accommodation capacity, Famagusta was also the main port in terms of goods and passenger mobility, a determining factor for the town’s development. In 1973, exports from the Port of Famagusta represented more than 42% of the island’s total exports. In other words, prior to 1974, Famagusta used to be the leading tourist destination on the island and the most prosperous city. Varosha, the once thriving sector of the economy of Famagusta and prime property site, is surrounded to the north, south and west by land and to the east by sea. From 1960 when Cyprus became independent until 1974 and the Turkish invasion, its beaches and seafront area made it a magnet for tourism. It is also close to what is known since 1974 as the“UN buffer zone”, a zone which runs along the ceasefire line separating the Turkish occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, from the govern- ment controlled area of the Republic. Since 1974, Varosha’s refugees await for the return to their homes and properties. Barbed wire, concrete barricades and military warning signs erected by the Turkish occupation army surround Varosha, persistent in keeping everyone out of the fenced off area. T his situation in the beach area of Varosha is worse. After its mostly Greek Cypriot inhabitants fled in 1974, more than 100 hotels and 5.000 houses as well as businesses, public buildings, restaurants, museums and schools have been abandoned and watched over by the Turkish army. Despite two Secretary Council resolutions – 550 (1984) and 789 (1992) – Turkey has refused to transfer the administration of this area to the United Nations, but continues to sit there like a dog in the manger. Robert Ellis, commentator on Turkish affairs in the international press, in his article “Famagusta: A forgotten city” (“New Europe”, 22 May 2011) From the fence, which obstructs the stroller fromgaining access to the Varosha shoreline, the sea-front hotels, apartment blocks and restaurants are no more than decaying concrete skeletons – massive urban gravestones standing resolutely against themarch of time. Thememories and the souls of the former occupants, many of whomweremet by members of the delegation, still inhabit those walls. (Report of the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament on the Fact Finding Visit to Cyprus – 25 to 28 November 2007 concerning petition 733/2004) ” ”