Occupied Turkey proceeds with new works in its enclosed area occupied Famagusta. Confirming, to a large extent, that the plan to settle the area is gradually being implemented based on the announcements made last July by the occupation leader, Ersin Tatar, which took place in the presence of the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
This happened on 20 July during the celebrations for the 1974 invasion. It will be recalled that on 2 August, the «cabinet» of the occupation regime announced that a decision had been taken to abolish the «military area status» for the 3.5% of Varosha, with a total area of 5 square kilometres.
At the time, the pseudo-prime minister Saner had repeated Tatar's appeal to the «old owners» to appeal to the so-called reparations commission.
The work that started yesterday, concerns that part of 3.5% of the enclosure, which will be «demilitarized» and will be operated on a «pilot» basis. To be cleaned up, buildings to be repaired and residents to apply to the so-called committee for their properties. This is the plan.
A video of the T/C «Famagusta news agency», uploaded on social media, shows the first actions taken on Wednesday, 13/10, the day of the start of the works:
The barbed wire has been removed, while bulldozers, trucks and soldiers have undertaken the clean-up along with officials of the Famagusta “town hall” and soldiers. In other words, cleaning, restoration, earthworks and road and pavement repair works were started. Later, it will possibly be connected to electricity and water supply.
As reported by the Cyprus News Agency, the extension of Independence Avenue and the end of Ermou Street, shops such as the woodworking shop of the Nicholas George Marangos family can be seen in the shots. The building of the Famagusta Town Hall can be seen, as well as part of the road already in use, where the Papathoma School used to be.
Yesterday's move by occupying Turkey is a reminder that the Famagusta project was not a mere announcement, but is proceeding in the form of a salami. Gradually and with concrete steps.
The actions in the enclosed area are the fait accompli that the Turkish side wants to impose on the ground. The other ultimatums are in the Cypriot EEZ, where it seems that the occupying power wants to put more weight.
The next moves at sea will be the sending of the research vessel «Oroot's Race» and the drilling vessels that will be sent in November next year, when the American Exxon Mobil will start confirmation drilling in sea block 10.
Helping hand from Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel may be outgoing, but it seems that she still has an influence on developments.
That is why yesterday, President Anastasiades contacted her by phone and informed her about the Turkish illegal actions both in Famagusta and in the EEZ.
As stated in the Presidency's announcement in Nicosia:
«The President of the Republic asked the German Chancellor to exert her influence in the direction of restarting the Cyprus talks process within the established framework, but also to end and reverse all illegal actions by Turkey».
