NICOSIA, Sept 6 (AFP) - Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has proposed to Brussels that the Turkish-held Famagusta port could be jointly controlled under EU supervision if the abandoned ghost town of Varosha is returned to its Greek-Cypriot inhabitants.
"The proposal relates to the return of the fenced-off area (Varosha) of Famagusta to its rightful inhabitants as provided for by UN resolutions so at the same time a legal formula can be found for the reopening of Famagusta port," said Greek Cypriot government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides on Monday.
The proposal is viewed as a counter-move by the Greek Cypriot leadership which is keen to prevent Brussels from agreeing to trade directly with the Turkish Cypriot north of the divided island.
The spokesman said Papadopoulos had already spoken to Enlargement Commissioner Gunther Verheugen on the issue and had now followed up with a detailed outline of his position.
Varosha -- the island`s premier tourist resort in its heyday -- is a UN-protected area with its decaying hotels and sandy beaches remaining empty for the past 30 years.
Cyprus has been divided since a 1974 Greek-engineered coup in Nicosia was followed by the Turkish invasion and occupation of the island`s northern third where Ankara maintains over 30,000 troops.
Varosha would have been returned to its rightful residents under a UN reunification plan rejected by Greek Cypriots at a referendum in April but accepted by Turkish Cypriots.
Cyprus joined the European Union on May 1 after Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly rejected the UN peace deal, ensuring a divided island entered the bloc, effectively shutting out the Turkish Cypriot north.
The EU has moved to reward the Turkish Cypriots for voting "yes" in their referendum by trying to end the north`s economic isolation. Turkey is pushing Brussels to come good on that promise while the Greek Cypriot side argues that the EU proposals to conduct direct trade with the north are illegal.