European Parliament: Turkey should withdraw troops from EU territory

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Cypriot government welcomed the decision by the European Parliament Committee on Petitions calling on Turkey to withdraw troops from the EU territory, starting with Famagusta.



"This is a very important document for the Cypriot refugees. Famagusta's return is represented as a separate process but not as an element of the Cypriot problem solution," a government member said.



According to the recommendations, "UNSC Resolution 550 (1984) must be respected, and implemented without further delay by all parties and, with regard to the petitioners' concerns, the institutions of the European Union must actively support and promote a solution which leads to the full restoration of property to its legitimate owners in Varosha."



Furthermore, it says that "Turkey must withdraw its occupation military forces from the Republic of Cyprus, an EU territory, starting with the return of the Famagusta sealed-off section to its lawful inhabitants in compliance with the above resolution."



Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The July 2006 agreement was clinched between former Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of then UN Undersecretary for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari. It provides for a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.



The talks on re-union will resume on September 3.