UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984)
...5. Considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations...
UN Security Council Resolution 789 (1992)
...8. Urges all concerned to commit themselves to the confidence-building measures set out below:
...(c) That, with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha;...
UN Security Council Resolution 889 (1993)
...8. Reaffirms that the status quo is unacceptable, and encourages the Secretary-General and his Special Representative to pursue the Secretary-General's mission of good offices on the basis of the Set of Ideas and the package of confidence-building measures relating to Varosha and Nicosia International Airport referred to in paragraph 45 of the Secretary-General's report of 22 November 1993;...
UN Security Council Resolution 902 (1994)
...2. Welcomes the acceptance in principle by both parties of the confidence-building measures relating, in particular, to Varosha and Nicosia International Airport;...
Loizidou v. Turkey case at the ECHR
The case of Loizidou v. Turkey illustrates how Fundamental Human Rights have been infringed by Turkey since 1974. The claimant at the European Court of Human Rights, Mrs Loizidou, a displaced Greek Cypriot from Kyrenia, sued Turkey under provisions of the European Convention for Human Rights, to which both Turkey and Cyprus are parties. She won the case, as the Court ruled that Turkey was for so many years since 1974 preventing the enjoyment of her lawful property, ordering Turkey to pay damages of around one million EURO and to allow the peaceful reinstallment of Mrs Loizidou to her property. The first part has been carried out by Turkey, while the Council of Europe is waiting to see Turkey fulfill the second part of the judgement.
The legal precedent that arised from the Loizidou case suffices to illustrate how Turkey is legally unjustified to be occupying the north of Cyprus. Specifically, Varosha is empty, abandoned and left deteriorate while its legal inhabitants are prevented from enjoying their lawful properties.
A Comprehensive Solution to the Cyprus Question
The return of Famagusta/Varosha to its lawful citizens does not constitute a solution wholly or partially to the Cyprus Question. On the contrary, a just, viable and lasting solution to the problem should be achieved through a pre-agreed solution by the two communities on the island, should be approved by the people of Cyprus and should conform with Public International Law, Fundamental Human Rights and European Union law. The 8th of July 2006 Agreement between the parties under the UN is a new starting point for negotiations that will hopefully lead to such a conclusion. CYSO ISCHYS is committed to enhancing every official effort for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Question with the above characteristics.
Consequences of the Turkish Invasion of 1974 for Cypriots
- Almost 36% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus - i.e. the northern part of the island, where 70% of its natural resources are concentrated - is under Turkish occupation.
- 28% of the Greek Cypriots have been displaced from the occupied northern sector where they had constituted 80% of the inhabitants.
- Greek and Turkish Cypriots, who for 300 years had lived together intermingled throughout the island, were now artificially separated.
- The ascertainment of the fate of the missing persons is still pending.
- By the end of 1974 about 12,000 people were enclaved in their occupied villages living under conditions of oppression, harassment and deprivation. Now only 535 people, 398 Greek Cypriots and 137 Maronites remain in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.
- 40.000 Turkish soldiers, armed with the latest weapons, are stationed in the occupied area, making it, according to the UN Secretary-General, "one of the most militarised regions of the world" (S994/680/7.6.1994.par.28).
- Over 115.000 Turks have been brought over from Turkey to colonise the occupied area thus changing the demography of the island and controlling the political situation.
- The "Attila line" ("Operation Attila" was the code-name Turkey gave to the invasion of Cyprus) artificially divides the island and its people and prevents Cypriots from moving freely throughout their country.
- In an effort to consolidate the de facto situation, the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" was unilaterally declared in 1983 in the occupied area, a pseudostate recognised only by Turkey and entirely dependent on it.
- According to Turkish-Cypriot newspapers, over one third of Turkish Cypriots emigrated from the occupied area between 1974-1995 because of the economic and social deprivation which prevails there. As a result the Turkish Cypriots who remain are today outnumbered by the Turkish troops together with the colonists.
- The illegal regime in the occupied area is deliberately and methodically trying to eradicate every trace of a 9.000 year old cultural and historical heritage. All Greek place-names have been replaced by Turkish ones. Churches, monuments, cemeteries and archaeological sites have been destroyed, desecrated or looted. Priceless religious and archaeological treasures, part of the world's cultural heritage, are being stolen and smuggled abroad, and illegal excavations and dealings in antiquities are taking place.
International Law has been infringed by Turkey in every possible way throught its military invasion of 1974 and its continuing occupation of 36% of the island, which causes the deprivation for displaced Greek Cypriots to enjoy their lawful property and prevents Turkish Cypriots from living in harmony under the 1960 Constitution that established the Republic of Cyprus, which is a UN Member-State and, since 2004, an EU Member State.
The proclamation of the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' by Turkey in the occupied areas of Cyprus on 15 November 1983 violates international law even further. An illegal entity, the so-called 'TRNC' is only recognised by Turkey. The United Nations Security Council, the the Committe of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the European Union (then European Community), the Commonwealth Heads of Government and other international and regional bodies, have repeatedly stated that the declaration of independence is "legally invalid", required its "withdrawal" and called upon all States "not to recognize any Cypriot State other than the Republic of Cyprus". See in particular UN Security Council Resolution 541 (1983).
The case of Loizidou v. Turkey illustrates how Fundamental Human Rights have been infringed by Turkey since 1974. The claimant at the European Court of Human Rights, Mrs Loizidou, a displaced Greek Cypriot from Kyrenia, sued Turkey under provisions of the European Convention for Human Rights, to which both Turkey and Cyprus are parties. She won the case, as the Court ruled that Turkey was for so many years since 1974 preventing the enjoyment of her lawful property, ordering Turkey to pay damages of around one million EURO and to allow the peaceful reinstallment of Mrs Loizidou to her property. The first part has been carried out by Turkey, while the Council of Europe is waiting to see Turkey fulfill the second part of the judgement.
Numerous UN Security Council Resolutions have called for the end of the occupation in Cyprus, the withdrawal of the 'TRNC' and respect for the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
