Resolution 2563 (2024)1Provisional version

Call for Varosha’s return to its lawful inhabitantsParliamentary Assembly

1. The summer of 2024 marks the sad 50th anniversary of the most dramatic episode in Cyprus’ modernhistory – the coup d’état promoted by the military dictatorship in Greece aiming at achieving “Enosis” ofCyprus with Greece and the invasion by Türkiye which intervened under the pretext of Article IV of the Treatyof Guarantee of 1960. This crisis followed the intercommunal strife of 1963-1964, which led to thedisplacement of Cypriots from their homes, following which the United Nations decided to deploy apeacekeeping force (UNFICYP), which is still present on the island today. The Turkish military intervention ofJuly-August 1974 resulted in thousands of victims, and a significant portion of the population having to fleetheir homes, leaving everything behind. The scars of these tragic events are still very present in the memoriesand public conscience of Cypriots. One of the most shocking traces of those events is the ghost town ofVarosha, a fenced-off area of the city of Famagusta which has been closed and uninhabited for 50 years.

2. The Parliamentary Assembly recalls that Cyprus, which had been part of the British Empire, wasestablished in 1960 as an independent State ensuring equal rights and equal responsibility to all its citizens,both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and with guarantees of Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

3. The Assembly deplores that, almost 50 years later, the Cyprus problem is still unresolved, and theisland remains divided. The continuing frozen conflict harms the vital interests of all Cypriot citizens and maylead to dangerous escalation. Furthermore, it constitutes a potentially destabilising factor for the EasternMediterranean.

4. The Assembly refers to its previous resolutions on the Cyprus issue, in particular Resolution 1362(2004), Resolution 1376 (2004) and Resolution 1628 (2008), and reiterates its strong commitment to reachinga fair, lasting and comprehensive solution for a peaceful and united Cyprus which would guarantee thelegitimate rights of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, in full compliance with the values and principlesof the Council of Europe.

5. The Assembly fully supports the continued efforts by the United Nations Secretary General aimed atreviving the political process with a view to reaching a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue, andwelcomes the appointment of María Angela Holguin Cuéllar as Secretary General’s Personal Envoy onCyprus for the purpose of exploring whether common ground exists or not between the two sides, and hopesthat her efforts will be able to promote the re-opening of negotiations between the two Cypriot communities.

6. The Assembly calls upon all parties involved to contribute to the swift resumption of the politicalprocess, and to refrain from any unilateral steps or public statements that could undermine the prospects for it.In this context, it considers that the statements made by the leaders of Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriotcommunity promoting a “two-state solution” for Cyprus, thus pushing towards an effective partition of theisland, ignore and contradict a settlement of a united Cyprus in a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation inaccordance with commonly agreed parameters laid down by the relevant United Nations documents.

1. Assembly debate on 27 June 2024 (22nd sitting) (see Doc. 16004, report of the Committee on Political Affairs andDemocracy, rapporteur: Mr Piero Fassino). Text adopted by the Assembly on 27 June 2024 (22nd sitting).

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