Alexis Galanos, the mayor of Famagusta, a city fenced-off after the 1974 Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus, has appealed to parliament to help return the city to its "legal inhabitants."
His appeal came after he addressed parliament's committee on petitions.
Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Galanos expressed relief with parliament's decision to reopen the Famagusta issue, adding that the issue will be referred to the Spanish EU presidency in the first half of 2010.
The committee said it will examine the possibility of a visit to Cyprus by its chairwoman Erminia Mazzoni with the aim of ascertaining whether the Turkish side remains intransigent regarding the return of the city to its "legal inhabitants."
Galanos said this was in contravention of a UN security council resolution and proposals of parliament itself.
"All the members of the committee stated that at some point, if the Turkish side remains intransigent on the issue of Famagusta, the possibility of reference to parliament's plenary should be discussed," Galanos added.
"The status of Famagusta is unacceptable," Galanos said, noting "a country which knocks the door of Europe (Turkey) holds a city away from its inhabitants and has turned it into a ghost-city."
He said any move regarding Famagusta would be "very positive" for the creation of a good climate at the ongoing UN-led talks for a Cyprus settlement.
Galanos described Turkey's "refusal to grant access" to UN experts in Famagusta as a negative development.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey occupied its northern third.
The UN holds the Turkish military responsible for the occupied town of Famagusta and has called for the return of the fenced area, abandoned since the invasion, to its lawful inhabitants.
Ankara has so far refused to comply with repeated UN calls to that effect.
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