The latest developments in the Cyprus issue following the informal dinner between President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York, and the preparations for the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026, were the focus of a meeting between the Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, and a delegation of the Famagusta Municipality, led by the Mayor, Simos Ioannou, which took place at the Presidential Palace, on Tuesday.

The meeting took place in the framework of the contacts that Raouna is holding with local authorities in preparation for the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026.

After the meeting, Raouna said that during the meeting the Mayor of Famagusta and his colleagues were briefed on the preparations adding that Turkish occupied municipalities will be "a special point of reference during the Presidency."

The Deputy Minister for European Affairs added that the assumption of the Presidency is an opportunity for Cyprus to inform, enlighten and promote our national issue, which, as reiterated on October 11 by the nine leaders of the EU's Mediterranean Member States (MED9), is a European issue. In this context, she continued, "the EU has an extremely important role to play."

She added that Famagusta is a special point of reference for Europeans and the European Union itself, pointing out that "it is a symbol of the ongoing occupation and the violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

She also said that the latest developments in the Cyprus issue were discussed following the informal dinner between the President of the Republic and the Turkish Cypriot leader, as a result of the efforts made by the President Christodoulides, to create impetus for the resumption of negotiations in the framework of the relevant Security Council resolutions and the European principles and values.

On his part, Ioannou said that a very good discussion took place regarding the latest developments in the Cyprus issue.

Ioannou said that some meetings have been requested to be held in the European Parliament, in the first half of 2025, with the new leaders of the groups and the people who have now taken over the reins of the EU to bring the issue of Famagusta to their attention.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘ghost town’.

UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any 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 UN. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges 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.   

On October 8, 2020, the Turkish side opened part of the fenced area of Varosha, following an announcement made in Ankara on October 6. Then, in July 2021, Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, announced a partial lifting of the military status in Varosha. 

In his latest UNFICYP report, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, reiterates his concern over any new developments in the fenced-off area of Varosha and the lack of response to the Security Council’s call for a reversal of the actions taken since the announcement of the partial reopening in October 2020. The has EU also expressed concern.