As Turkey escalates tension with its provocative stance and strains the climate for the continuation of Cyprus talks, the Republic of Cyprus declares its determination to enter a new round of negotiations in a five-party meeting, from where it stopped in Crans Montana in 2017.
 
In an address at a memorial service, Minister of Interior Nicos Nouris said on Sunday that the Republic of Cyprus is ready to enter a new round of negotiations with the only aim to reach a solution on the basis of the agreed framework of the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.
 
The Interior Minister, whose address was delivered on his behalf by Nicosia District Officer Andreas Hadjipakos, also stressed that “the recent opening of part of the beach of Varosha is a move that aims to impose new faits – accomplis on the ground and indicates, once again, Ankara`s intentions to implement its illegal expansionist plans and the final division of Cyprus.”

Nouris also said that the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades took a series of steps to condemn Turkey`s illegal actions in the Security Council and made it clear that the Republic is not only interested in sanctions by also in finding a solution through dialogue that will ensure the peaceful coexistence and restoration of the rights of all legal residents of the island.
 
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The last round of negotiations, in the summer of 2017, at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

The Turkish side illegally opened on October 8 part of the beach of the abandoned town of Famagusta, in violation to numerous UN resolutions.
 
Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘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. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.