Greek Cypriot Side Unveils Goodwill Gestures Towards Turkish Cyprus

NICOSIA (CÝHAN) - The Greek Cypriot Administration has unveiled several goodwill gestures towards Turkish Cypriots on Friday.
Greek Cypriot Administration spokesman Cipros Hrisostomidis revealed the goodwill package at a press conference in the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.
The Greek Cypriot side have offered to open the port of Famagusta to foreign trade if the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus cedes control of the deserted Turkish town of Varosha to the Greek Cypriot Administration, Turkish TV reports on Friday.
The port of Famagusta will be handed over to EU control and a joint Turkish and Greek Cypriot committee will be founded to run the port, the goodwill package proposes.
The goodwill gesture has been deemed as a move by the Greek Cypriot side to mend fences with the international community and the Turkish side following the collapse of the reunification deal following the April 24 referendum this year. Turkish Cypriots had accepted the United Nations reunification proposal while Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly voted against it.
The Greek Cypriot measures also include proposals to unearth landmines along the `green line` dividing the island, to open new border crossings, and to remove trenches on the border.
The goodwill gesture package offers the opening of eight new border gates between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides and the reciprocal withdrawal of the troops stationed near the new gates and along the dividing line to a distance of 200 metres. The package also proposes to stop military practices alongside the green line to improve mutual trust and understanding.
The Greek Cypriot administration demolished 10 landmine fields in 1983 and has unearthed 10 thousand anti-personnel mines in the last 2 years.
However last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had declared that Turkey would not give control of the deserted Turkish town of Varosha to the Greek Cypriot side.
The Greek Cypriot Administration joined the EU in May while Turkish Cyprus has been left in isolation despite their "yes" vote in the April referendum on the U.N. peace plan.
An economic aid package approved by the EU Commission last week proposes the way for direct trade between Turkish Cyprus and the European Union. The US Government has declared that it will provide financial support worth 30 million dollars for Turkish Northern Cyprus.
Last year, the Turkish and Greek Cypriot administrations had reached an agreement for the mutual opening of borders and the granting of freedom of movement.
Turkey has maintained nearly 30,000 troops in Northern Cyprus since 1974 which accounts for approximately 37% of the total territory of the island.
Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974 when Turkey took control of northern part of the island in response to the new Greek government at the time which had hoped to unite the island with Greece.