Famagusta Mayor sends letter to EU Commissioner

Mayor of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta Alexis Galanos has sent a letter to EU Εnlargement Commissioner, Oli Rhen, informing him about the outcome of a campaign to collect signatures, as part of efforts to have Famagusta returned to its lawful citizens.

Galanos informs the Commissioner about the collection of approximately 26,000 signatures, pointing out that with the addition of signatures from Cypriot citizens living abroad, this number is expected to exceed 30,000.

In the letter, the Mayor includes a copy of the petition on the implementation of Security Council resolution 550 and the relevant provisions of an agreement in the late 70s between the late President of Cyprus Spyros Kyprianou and the then Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Galanos stresses the expectation that the European Union and its representatives must demonstrate more sensitivity toward the historic European city of Famagusta.

Alexis Galanos notes that the citizens of Famagusta “know very well the international complexities and the relation between EU and Turkey, but believe that the city which is being destroyed day by day, is a great European tragedy.”

Galanos underlines that “it is completely unethical to push such a flagrant violation of human rights under the carpet, just because of other considerations”.