Return of Famagusta a top priority

President Nicos Anastasiades has said that the return of the fenced area of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta (Varosha) is a priority and not a slogan, and is perhaps “the knife that will cut the Gordian Knot” of the Cyprus problem.

The President made the remark in a speech at the 4th Clergy-Laity Congress of the Diocese of Constantia-Ammochostos at Paralimni.

In his speech, President Anastasiades said the economic situation on the island does not lessen the desire for a solution. “The Cyprus problem was, is and will remain the top priority”, he stressed.

He pledged that “the solution to the national problem remains our top priority and we will not stop fighting for a solution that will end the occupation and settlement, rid Cyprus of foreign troops, restore and secure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots.”

The solution, he added, should be functional and viable and reunite the people, the country, the institutions and the economy. In this framework, he added, “we undertake substantial initiatives to promote confidence building measures which will bring the two communities closer and make easier a solution.”

President Anastasiades said that the return of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants is a significant step towards achieving the goal of a solution based on the substance of the problem. “With the return of Famagusta, we will be able to build our trust towards Turkey”, he added.

“The Famagusta priority is not a slogan, nor a figure of speech without contents. It is, perhaps, the knife that will cut the Gordian Knot of the pending Cyprus problem”, the President said, noting that this is something that all interlocutors understand at the UN, Europe and the United States and everywhere else we have raised this. “I assure you I will not tire of struggling for Famagusta and to demand its return”.

President Anastasiades said that during the meeting he had earlier this week with Jeffrey Feltman, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, he raised the issue of the return of Famagusta and the implementation of Confidence Building Measures and the latter agreed to their significance.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel whom Anastasiades met on Wednesday was positive toward the President`s positions on the issue.

“At the same time, I do not want to build up excessive expectations and false hopes either to the people of Famagusta or the people of Cyprus. I acknowledge the difficulties and obstacles raised by the Turkish side. But we will continue to demand the return of our beloved town”, he added.

In his speech, the President of the Republic said that during today`s hard economic conditions, the role of the Church, in supporting those in need, is something that is deeply appreciated by the government, adding that the state is ready to contribute in helping the work the Bishopric of Constantia-Famagusta. The biggest part of the bishopric is under Turkish occupation but it contributes to efforts to reunite the country.

The fenced off area of the town of Famagusta, known as Varosha, has been under Turkish occupation since 1974.

Abandoned by its Greek Cypriot inhabitants as they fled the advancing Turkish troops in the summer of 1974, Varosha has remained under Turkey`s direct control since then.
The UN has called for the return of the town to its lawful inhabitants but so far Ankara refuses to comply with such calls. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, engaged in peace talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader, has proposed the return of the city as a confidence building measure to restore trust between the island`s two communities, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion