30,000 people expected to sign the Famagusta petition

Around 30,000 people have signed the Famagusta Municipality’s petition under the slogan “Let’s give voice to our city”, which began April 14 and ended yesterday.
The campaign’s aim was to collect signatures by Famagusta refugees demanding that they be allowed to return to the fenced off town, which is occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.
Speaking at a press conference today, Mayor of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, Alexis Galanos, said he was satisfied with the campaign’s results so far and noted that Cypriots abroad could continue signing the petition until the beginning of May.
”Signatures are expected to reach 30,000, including the ones from abroad. We have made an important and positive step towards enlightenment”, the Mayor said.
Galanos said that the Famagusta Municipality expects the government and the political parties to respond to this campaign and use its results as a material that would contribute to the efforts for a Cyprus solution and the return of Famagusta to its lawful citizens.
He also noted the importance of the UN Security Council resolution 550 as well as the High Level Agreements of 1977-1979 which give priority to the return of Famagusta.
“The European community and the people of Europe should be made aware of the fact that Turkey, a country that aspires to become an EU member state, is holding a European town with a great European history, as hostage in the most inhuman manner”, he said.
Galanos said that the Famagusta Municipality’s enlightenment efforts would include meetings with the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, the national Parliaments, as well as the US Congress.
Referring to the US, he said that in the last few years, Cyprus has “neglected the US factor” in the area of enlightenment and added that in the light of the US elections, the overseas Cypriots should begin a new campaign on Cyprus.
The fenced-off area (Varosha) of Famagusta is under Turkish military administration. Security Council resolution 550 (11 May 1984) ”considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha (Famagusta) by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations.”