Filenews 21 July 2021
The crucial session of the National Council was concluded after almost three and a half hours during which the political leadership was informed by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Christodoulides, of the latest developments following yesterday's announcements by Tayyip Erdogan and Ersin Tatar to open 3.5% of the enclosed city of Famagusta. In a joint communiqué read after the end of the session by the Government Representative, the National Council warns that appeals to the "committee" pose serious risks, while calling for unity in the face of Turkey's objectives.
After the meeting, Government Representative Marios Pelekanos read a statement from the National Council as follows:
"The National Council, at its meeting today, discussed developments in relation to the enclosed area of Famagusta, in view of yesterday's unacceptable and illegal announcements by the Turkish side to change the status of part of the enclosed city of Famagusta, while urging those Greek Cypriots who wish to appeal to the so-called Commission.
The National Council was informed by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of all the steps taken by the Republic of Cyprus, while opinions were exchanged and proposals were submitted by the parties on ways of further reaction which the Government will study.
The National Council reiterated the common position that the change in the status of part of the Famagusta enclave from military to urban area constitutes a flagrant violation of the relevant Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and in particular Resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992) calling for the immediate transfer of the region under the administration of the United Nations. These announcements are crucial to the prospects of reopening negotiations to reach a comprehensive solution on the basis of the resolutions on Cyprus of the United Nations, International Law, principles and values of the European Union.
The National Council notes that Turkey's objective with the new announcements is to further promote its plans to finalise partition.
Without ignoring the principle that respect for the individual right to property is a given and no one can prevent the exercise of that right, the National Council notes that the possibility of recourse to the so-called Commission poses serious risks in relation to Turkey's objectives.
The criticality of the moments requires unity and homogeneity. The National Council calls for unity in the effort to address Turkey's new dichotomy methodologies."
The session of the National Council was attended President of the Parliament, Anita Demetriou, the former President of the Republic, George Vassiliou, and the Attorney General, Giorgos Savvides.
On the part of the parties, the Deputy President of the DISY participated, Charis Georgiadis, the SG of ACPL, Stefanos Stefanou, President DIKO, Nikolas Papadopoulos, the President of ELAM, Christos Christou, the President of the EDEC, Marinos Sizopoulos, the President of the Democratic Party, Marios Karoyan and the President of the Ecologists' Association - Citizens' Cooperation, Charalambos Theopetos.
Also participating were the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Christodoulides, the negotiator, Andreas Mavrogiannis, the Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President of the Republic, Kyriakos Kouros, the Government Representative, Marios Pelekanos and the Deputy Government Representative, Niovi Parissinos.
