Galanos: Famagusta strong card in Cyprus problem

Galanos: Famagusta strong card in Cyprus problem
2010-06-08 23:55:53
1345:CYPPRESS:02

Nicosia, Jun 8 (CNA) - Mayor of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, Alexis Galanos, has pointed out that Famagusta is a strong card to be played in order to reverse the negative climate around the Cyprus problem, adding that, although there was much talk about no timeframes in the peace effort for a solution, there were indeed deadlines in other forms. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Galanos said that mass applications to the so-called property commission in the Turkish occupied areas by Greek Cypriot refugees would in fact lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem on the ground.

He also said that the Cyprus problem was a matter for the Cypriots to solve up to a certain point, and that the possibility of an international conference should be looked into.

Galanos said the issue of the town of Famagusta, which has been fenced-off since 1974, was ''a basic move on the Cyprus problem chessboard,'' adding that the new Chairwoman of the Committee on Petitions Erminia Mazzoni visited Cyprus last week to see the situation for herself.

He expressed hope that, following the visit, a supplementary report would be prepared, presenting the problem in its full dimension and requesting that the EU presidency exerts its influence, adding that Famagusta was a live example of the consequences of the Turkish invasion and occupation. Galanos pointed out that Famagusta was not a trump card for Turkey but rather a hot potato, and expressed hope that the situation would change so that progress could be made in the Cyprus problem. The Mayor furthermore noted that ''we do not want deadlines'' but pointed out that ''we do have deadlines, the issue of direct trade between the occupied areas and the EU is a deadline, which will not disappear.''

Galanos also said that mass applications to the so-called property commission in the Turkish occupied areas by Greek Cypriot refugees would in fact lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem on the ground, adding that the refugees need guidance and that, if the Greek Cypriot side did not face developments with aggressive diplomacy, the status quo would not be maintained.

''If we are speaking about plan B, and I am not sure what plan A is, then what will happen with the issue of the European Court of Human Rights is that there will be a normalisation of the situation,'' he said, adding that ''the occupied areas will slowly be integrated into Turkey.'' He added that ''when we say that the Cyprus problem is a matter for the Cypriots to solve, this is correct up to a certain point,'' noting that ''the Cypriots cannot remove the Turkish troops, they cannot expunge the guarantees, they cannot stop the influx of Turkish settlers'' and thus it may be a good idea to look into the possibility of an international conference.

Galanos also said ''Turkey today is slowly moving towards division, it has been relieved of its responsibilities in Cyprus, and is being presented as the protector of the Arab world, the peacemaking force holding the keys of Kabul, the Chair of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a non-elected member of the Security Council, a candidate for EU accession, a large regional power.”

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

from HNA