Christodoulides says Varosha proposal differs from 2005 initiative

Famagusta, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday that his proposal to Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman concerning Varosha and Famagusta port differed from an initiative put forward more than 20 years earlier. He said the proposal remained available despite an initial rejection after their latest meeting.

Varosha and Famagusta port proposal

Addressing Famagusta’s Greek Cypriot municipal council-in-exile, Christodoulides explained that his initiative envisaged reopening the fenced-off section of Varosha and allowing its repopulation under United Nations administration, alongside opening Famagusta port under European Union control.

He said the proposal drew on earlier discussions and contained some elements of previous initiatives, but was not identical to the 2005 plan. He added that the earlier effort on which it built had progressed substantially, bringing a possible outcome closer.

Christodoulides said he wanted to discuss with the council how the current proposal could be expanded, refined and amended to secure a positive result. He argued that it could provide the practical demonstration of commitment currently needed to advance efforts towards resolving the Cyprus problem.

Crossings and forthcoming meetings

Christodoulides also said he had presented a proposal concerning crossing points and hoped for a favourable outcome, suggesting that positive news might come on Tuesday.

He said all sides would be judged by their readiness to undertake ambitious confidence-building measures that could help create a path towards a Cyprus settlement and demonstrate genuine commitment to that goal.

Ahead of his scheduled Tuesday meeting with Erhurman and the forthcoming visit by UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin, Christodoulides said developments remained to be seen. A trilateral meeting bringing together the president, Erhurman and Holguin is planned during the envoy’s stay in Cyprus.