Yesterday the UN Press Service issued a press release on a telephone conversation between the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and President Nicos Anastasiades of the Republic of Cyprus.

The press release noted that the Secretary-General and President Anastasiades discussed issues related to Cyprus, including developments related to the decision of the Government of the unrecognized by the international community TRNC to open the city of Varosha for visits and settlement. The Secretary-General reiterated the position of the United Nations in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

For the time being, Varosha is legally a military zone. The city is protected by the 1984 UN Security Council resolution, which states that the city can only be inhabited by its original inhabitants or their descendants. Before the Turkish invasion in 1974, it was mainly populated by Greek Cypriots.