Olli Rehn: Varosha should be settled under UN framework not the EU

The EU Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement Olli Rehn stated that the address to settle the issue of returning Varosha to its former owners was not the EU, but the UN.

Explaining that “the issue of the return of Varosha was one of the most comprehensive parts of the UN peace plan, which was put into referendum”, Rehn said, “the EU supported the UN’s efforts towards reaching a comprehensive and permanent settlement in the island”.

Referring to the proposal, which was prepared by the EU Commission for the lifting of the isolations on the TRNC and submitted to the EU Council, Rehn stressed that it was wrong to link this issue with Varosha. He added that the Direct Trade Regulation regarding the Turkish Cypriots was the issue of the EU and that the issue of Varosha was under UN’s responsibility.

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