Council of Europe Calls for Return of Varosha to Legitimate Residents

The report and resolution, titled "Call for the Return of Varosha to its Legitimate Residents," were adopted during the PACE plenary session in Strasbourg with 51 votes in favor and 13 against. The opposing votes came from the Turkish delegation of PACE.

The resolution emphasizes that transferring Varosha to UN control or returning it to its legitimate residents, as stipulated in UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789, would greatly aid in achieving a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue. It also noted that reopening Varosha or altering its status would violate UN Security Council resolutions and undermine the chances of a comprehensive solution.

The resolution calls on all parties to contribute to the resumption of the political solution process on the island and avoid unilateral actions or declarations that could jeopardize this process. It highlights that the policy of a two-state solution for Cyprus, advocated by Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, does not align with the UN framework for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

"Accelerate the Immovable Property Commission"

The resolution also calls for the acceleration of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in Northern Cyprus, recognized by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as an effective domestic remedy for property claims by Greek Cypriots. Despite numerous applications being resolved, no applications concerning Varosha have been concluded. Many Greek Cypriots avoid applying to the IPC, fearing it might imply recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

PACE began preparing the report on Varosha following statements made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and TRNC President Ersin Tatar in October 2020 about reopening the area. Italian parliamentarian Piero Fassino was appointed as the rapporteur and conducted visits to Cyprus, Ankara, and Athens to gather information.

Fassino emphasized that the issue of Varosha is intertwined with the broader Cyprus problem, making it difficult to resolve independently. However, he urged continued efforts, supporting confidence-building measures and the transfer of Varosha to UN control.

"Switzerland Ready to Play a Role Again"

During the plenary session, speakers from various political groups expressed their support for the report. Swiss parliamentarian Damien Cottier suggested that Switzerland's federal structure could serve as a model for Cyprus and reaffirmed Switzerland's readiness to facilitate negotiations, as it had done in the past in Geneva, Bürgenstock, and Crans-Montana.

Namık Tan of the Socialist, Democrats, and Greens Group (SOC) highlighted the importance of the IPC and the necessity for mutually acceptable negotiations for a lasting solution on the island.

Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras compared the situation in Cyprus to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, urging a consistent stance from PACE against both situations. Tsipras emphasized the need for progressive forces in Europe to continue striving for peace and security in the region.

Turkish Cypriot parliamentarian Armağan Candan highlighted the isolation faced by Turkish Cypriots in various domains and called for a focus on comprehensive solutions rather than isolated issues like Varosha.

In a dissenting opinion attached to the report by Turkish parliamentarians Tuğrul Türkeş, Namık Tan, Sena Nur Çelik Kanat, and Konur Alp Koçak, they stressed the hardships faced by Turkish Cypriots before 1974 and called for the international community to guarantee the equal sovereign status of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Varosha, a once-bustling resort area, was partially reopened for civilian use in 2021 with Turkish support, a move that drew criticism from the European Union and the UN for being unilateral.