President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has said that Cyprus is considering the possibility of bringing the case of Turkish provocations in the fenced off area of Famagusta before the UN Security Council, and taking legal action against this case, based on International Law.

In an interview with the Greek newspaper “Ta Nea”, President Anastasiades underlined that the provocative statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu during his recent illegal visit to Famagusta, affect negatively both Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots.

He also stressed that the ball for a trilateral meeting for the Cyprus Issue lies now in the UN Secretary-General’s court.

“I wish that all parties, and especially Turkey, will contribute in the effort for the creation of a positive atmosphere that will permit the UN-Secretary General to convene a new International Summit on the Cyprus Problem”, Anastasiades said.

However, President Anastasiades underlined that the presence of Turkish gunboats and drill ships in the Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) makes impossible for the negotiation process to recommence. “It is impossible to enter into negotiations under the threat of gunboats”, Anastasiades said, stressing that the Turkish illegal actions in the Cyprus’ ΕΕΖ must immediately stop for negotiations to resume.

Asked whether the Republic of Cyprus will request from the European Union to take further measures against Turkey, Anastasiades replied that despite the fact that there are many difficulties both for the European Union and for other parties to take measures that will bear the real cost for Turkey, Cyprus will continue to fight the battle for the Turkish illegal actions to stop.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Varosha is the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, often described as ‘ghost town’. UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN.

Efforts over the years for the legitimate citizens of Famagusta to return to the city have met with the refusal of the Turkish side, despite numerous decisions and resolutions by the UN, EU and other international institutions.