Christodoulides Calls Varosha and Famagusta Port Plan Mutually Beneficial Before Erhurman Meeting
President Nikos Christodoulides defended his plan for Varosha and the port of Famagusta ahead of talks with Tufan Erhurman, who has rejected it as unbalanced.
Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday that his proposal on Varosha and the port of Famagusta benefits both communities, shortly before meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. The plan would see the fenced-off area of Varosha opened and resettled under United Nations administration, while the port of Famagusta would operate under European Union control.
The president’s case for the proposal
Christodoulides described the initiative as a practical test of whether both sides are genuinely ready to advance. He said it would create a positive situation for everyone involved, and that bold confidence-building measures would also send a strong message to society as a whole.
In his words, “I believe this is a mutually beneficial proposal.”
Erhurman’s rejection
Erhurman said last week that he had turned the proposal down. He complained that it did not amount to bringing the EU’s direct trade regulation into force, and he described the plan as unbalanced.
Christodoulides acknowledged that the proposal does not activate the regulation. He argued, however, that direct trade would start anyway, because the port would be placed under EU control.
Background on the direct trade regulation
The regulation has been pending at EU level since July 2004. It would let Turkish Cypriot goods, certified by the Turkish Cypriot chamber of commerce, be exported straight into Europe across the Green Line. Those goods would receive the same favourable treatment in the single market as European products.
The measure was put forward three months after Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan plan for reunifying Cyprus in a referendum. It also came shortly after the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU.
Other topics for the meeting
Christodoulides said he also planned to raise methodology with Erhurman, including how each side sees the way forward on confidence-building measures and on restarting negotiations. He added that he hoped for positive results.
On the matter of crossing points, the president said he is still waiting for a reply.
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