During a debate at the European Parliament on a related petition, Fredi Beleris, Member of the European Parliament for the European People’s Party and New Democracy, and Vice-President of the Committee on Petitions, intervened on the Cyprus issue and the return of the fenced-off area of Famagusta to its lawful residents.

Mr. Beleris thanked the Mayor of Famagusta, Simos Ioannou, as well as the petitioner who took part in the Committee on Petitions’ discussion and raised an issue that remains an open wound for Europe. He stressed that “the situation in Famagusta is dramatic. The people who were expelled continue to be deprived of their homes and properties—for 52 entire years.”

He added that “a European city has remained closed since 1974, while Turkey’s unilateral opening and attempt to create faits accomplis directly violate the relevant United Nations resolutions and disregard the repeated recommendations of the European Parliament.”

Elsewhere in his speech, the New Democracy and EPP MEP emphatically underlined that “our Union rightly supports Ukraine, because in doing so it supports a principled policy. However, we must not forget that, for this correct policy to be implemented, Cypriots also contribute as European citizens—with their taxes and more. They therefore rightly expect this policy to be applied with the same consistency to their own homeland as well.”

“Europe must stand by them in practical terms. Not only out of solidarity, but also to strengthen our credibility in an ever-changing geopolitical environment. The first step would be the imposition of sanctions on Turkey,” he concluded.