Cyprus protests opening of ghost-suburb's residential area

The government of ethnically split Cyprus is protesting to the United Nations and the European Union a decision by Turkey and breakaway Turkish Cypriots to re-open a residential section of an abandoned, military-controlled suburb

PARALIMNI, Cyprus -- The government of ethnically split Cyprus on Tuesday lodged formal protests with the United Nations and the European Union over a decision by Turkey and breakaway Turkish Cypriots to re-open a residential section of an abandoned, military-controlled suburb, saying the move violates U.N. resolutions and could scuttle peace efforts. A statement said Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has spoken to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and will dispatch a letter to the five permanent U.N. Security Council members. Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar announced earlier Tuesday that a 3.5 square-kilometer (1.35 square-mile) section of Varosha would revert from military to civilian control so that Greek Cypriots could seek to reclaim their properties through the Immoveable Property Commission (IPC), a legal body that is empowered to adjudicate such cases. Tatar made the announcement ahead of a military parade attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to commemorate the 47th anniversary of a Turkish invasion that followed a coup aiming at union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence and keeps more than 35,000 troops there.