Famagusta:
From tragedy to opportunity
Four speakers, each analysing a different issue relating to the
Turkish occupied Town of Famagusta, were in agreement that the Town must be
returned to the Republic of Cyprus, at a Seminar entitled “Famagusta: From
tragedy to opportunity” held in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House,
Westminster, on Wednesday May 17th.
The Seminar co-sponsored by the Famagusta Association of Great
Britain and Lobby for Cyprus,
was hosted by the Right Honourable David Burrowes, MP. The speakers included Dr
Klearchos Kyriakides who is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Hertfordshire
University, Professor Andreas
Theophanous, Chair of Political Economy at Nicosia
University, Mark Stevens
CBE, Human Rights Lawyer and Mr Alexis Galanos, Mayor of Famagusta.
Like more than 37 per cent of the north of the island
of Cyprus, Famagusta
has been under Turkish occupation since the Turkish invasion of 1974.
However, unlike the rest of the occupied area which is inhabited by more than
160,000 Anatolian settlers who have been purposefully imported to change the
demographics of the occupied region, Famagusta
has remained a ghost town, fenced off and visibly decaying with the passage of
time.
Although pointing out the human element in the situation of Famagusta,
it is to the British government’s own interests that the Town be returned to
the Republic, Dr Kyriakides said. “The United
Kingdom is under various legal and moral duties in relation
to Famagusta,” adding: “Furthermore, the United
Kingdom has a strategic interest in the welfare
of the town. Famagusta
contains two unused British retained sites and a port which Royal Navy ships
have a treaty right to enter. Besides which, Famagusta is situated less
than six miles away from Ayios Nikolaos, an integral part of a British Overseas
Territory and a discreet element in the UK-US ‘special relationship’.”
In addition, Dr Kyriakides added, “For many years, Ayios Nikolaos
has contained a Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) station, together with an
associated civil infrastructure in support of British military as well as
civil-service personnel and members of their families. This
infrastructure includes an OFSTED-inspected primary school, a community centre,
a library and shops.”
The economic benefit not only to the town, itself, but also the
entire island was the basic theme of the presentation by Dr Theophanous.
He made his point by saying, “The return of the fenced-off city of Famagusta
to its inhabitants will lead to an economic boom due to the overall process of
reconstruction and the wealth effect that this will entail. These
developments will influence economic activity throughout Cyprus
and will lead to multi-dimensional benefits for both communities, but also the
EU and the region.”
He added: “This arrangement may be part of a set of confidence
building measures, so much in need at the moment, in view of the stalling
intercommunal negotiations, and a litmus test that Turkey
is ready for a Cyprus
settlement.”
Mr
Mark Stevens in his opening remarks stressed the “ineffectiveness of the law in
getting redress for the displaced citizens of Famagusta.
We share an innate sense of injustice that has befallen the occupants of the
Town.” He next added, “inward investment and regeneration funds from elsewhere
in the world will not come until there is a legal settlement. Turkey
must realise that there is only one lawful sovereign body and that is the Republic
of Cyprus. Any subversion of
this would be in breach of International Law and UN resolutions. Turkey
appears to have no incentive at the moment to reach a settlement, because its
EU accession talks have reached a stalemate, the EU is economically weak at the
moment and the UN is otherwise engaged in more pressing international matters.”
Mr
Alexis Galanos in turn made reference to UN resolution 550, which is the only
one that “states quite clearly that Famagusta
is under Turkish occupation. Successive UN Secretary Generals have failed to
act on their mandate regarding Famagusta
and work for its return to its lawful inhabitants.” He then analysed the current
political situation in the region, and Turkey’s
aspirations saying “we must increase the cost of the continued occupation of
the north of Cyprus for Turkey.
We must build bridges with other countries in the region, including Israel
and further afield such as the United
States. Unfortunately, Britain’s
stance with special interests on the island can at best be classed as benign
neglect.” He ended by saying that “Famagusta is
the key to test Turkey’s good
will and a bridge to an overall Cyprus
settlement.”
There followed a question and answer session
moderated by the Chair Mr David Burrowes MP, during which he declared his
support for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus
problem. Closing the meeting, he read out a letter which was sent to the Prime Minister
Mr David Cameron, on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Group, in which he
is reminded of both the UN and EU resolutions on Famagusta
and of the UK’s
responsibility as a guarantor power
