Deputy Director General of the UN in Geneva, Michael Moller has said he considers the proposal of the Cypriot government for the opening of the Turkish occupied area of Varosha as an excellent initiative.
Moller, who served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) between 2006-2008, received the credentials of newly appointed Permanent Representative of Cyprus to Geneva, Andreas Ignatiou.
According to an official press release, Moller said he considers as two excellent initiatives both the proposal by Nicosia for the return of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta as well as the active involvement of the EU in the Cyprus talks.
The UN official also asked to be informed about the financial situation in Cyprus , especially after the recent visit of the Troika to the island.
Ignatiou expressed President Nicos Anastasiades’ gratitude for Mollers contribution during the years he served in Cyprus, and briefed him on the latest developments concerning the Cyprus issue.
Cyprus has been divided since the Turkish invasion in the summer of 1974. Around 37% of Cyprus’ territory is under Turkish occupation. Varosha, is the fenced off section of the occupied town of Famagusta, called also ‘ghost town’. Varosha – remains to this day deserted, abandoned to the elements. Efforts over the years for the legitimate citizens of Famagusta to return to the city have met the refusal of the Turkish side, despite numerous decisions and resolutions by the UN, EU and other international institutions.
A new effort has recently been launched by President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, who submitted a proposal on the return of Varosha and the use of its port by the Turkish Cypriots for exports to EU countries.
The President believes this would help build confidence, proving that the two communities on the island can coexist peacefully in conditions of prosperity and peace.
Previous UN led efforts to reunite the country have failed. A fresh round of talks on the reunification of Cyprus under a federal roof is expected to start later this year.
Cyprus is a full EU member state since May 2004.
Cyprus requested and received a €10 billion financial assistance package from the Troika (EC, ECB, IMF) which featured a sizeable reduction of the island`s banking sector, as well as bail-in of uninsured deposits. Under the aid package agreed in March, Cyprus closed one bank, the Laiki Bank, (its depositors lost all savings exceeding 100,000 euro) whereas deposits over 100,000 euro held at the island’s biggest lender, Bank of Cyprus, lost 47.5% of their value, after being converted into bank shares.
