Northern&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;said on Tuesday&nbsp;it will reopen&nbsp;the coastal section of the long-fenced-off disputed town of Varosha, a Turkish Cypriot leader announced Tuesday ahead of elections at the weekend.

The move has been condemned by Greek Cypriots and is likely to conjure up memories of the 1974 Turkish invasion that partitioned the island.

It&nbsp;could weigh on Turkey's dispute with European Union members&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;and Greece over territorial rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. Tensions had eased after Ankara and Athens agreed to resume talks, but&nbsp;Cyprus, a close ally of the Greece, promptly condemned the move to partially reopen the abandoned resort and said it would file a recourse to the United Nations Security Council.

The internationally-recognised government of the divided Mediterranean island swiftly condemned the decision as a "pre-election stunt" and said it would lodge protests to the UN Security Council and European Union.

Speaking after a meeting in Ankara with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Cypriot premier Ersin Tatar told reporters that "the coast will open to the public from Thursday morning".

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc was "very concerned" about the announcement concerning Varosha -- part of the wider Famagusta area -- and stressed the "urgency of restoring confidence and not of creating greater divisions."

The Turkish army has kept Varosha fenced off since its Greek Cypriot residents fled when it invaded northern&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;in 1974 in response to an Athens-engineered coup attempting to unite the island with Greece.

Backed by Ankara, right-winger Tatar is running in Sunday's presidential election in northern&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;against the incumbent, Mustafa Akinci, seen as a pro-reunification moderate.

Turkey, the only country that recognises the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;(TRNC), has long planned to open Varosha.

Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed Tatar's announcement as a "courageous decision".

"We hope Varosha will entirely open. We are ready to give any support to TRNC officials on this issue," Erdogan said.

"It is an undisputed fact that Varosha is a Turkish Cypriot territory. The decision about it rests with the Turkish Cypriot authorities," he added.

In northern Nicosia, an angry Akinci said the Varosha announcement made in Ankara amounted to "interference in our elections" and a "disgrace for our democracy".

Cyprus&nbsp;government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said it "strongly condemns the decision of occupier Turkey and its applauder Ersin Tatar to extend entry to the Varosha coast".

It was "a pre-election stunt created in Ankara, on the eve of an election for a new Turkish Cypriot leader", he said.

"This provocative and illegal action by Turkey will be denounced to the UN Security Council, EU and all international forums."

The Security Council has passed several resolutions calling for UN administration of Varosha and for its original Greek Cypriot residents to return.

In Brussels, EU enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi warned Tuesday that the Varosha announcement "does not help de-escalation in the region".

Borrell said that the "events will cause increased tensions and risk complicating the efforts to resume talks on the settlement of the&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;issue."

Northern Cyprus said on Tuesday it will reopen the coastal section of the long-fenced-off disputed town of Varosha, a Turkish Cypriot leader announced Tuesday ahead of elections at the weekend.

Northern Cyprus said on Tuesday it will reopen the coastal section of the long-fenced-off disputed town of Varosha, a Turkish Cypriot leader announced Tuesday ahead of elections at the weekend. The move has been condemned by Greek Cypriots and is likely to conjure up memories of the 1974 Turkish invasion that partitioned the island. It could weigh on Turkey's dispute with European Union members Cyprus and Greece over territorial rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. Tensions had eased after Ankara and Athens agreed to resume talks, but Cyprus, a close ally of the Greece, promptly condemned the move to partially reopen the abandoned resort and said it would file a recourse to the United Nations Security Council. The internationally-recognised government of the divided Mediterranean island swiftly condemned the decision as a "pre-election stunt" and said it would lodge protests to the UN Security Council and European Union. Speaking after a meeting in Ankara with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Cypriot premier Ersin Tatar told reporters that "the coast will open to the public from Thursday morning". EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc was "very concerned" about the announcement concerning Varosha -- part of the wider Famagusta area -- and stressed the "urgency of restoring confidence and not of creating greater divisions." The Turkish army has kept Varosha fenced off since its Greek Cypriot residents fled when it invaded northern Cyprus in 1974 in response to an Athens-engineered coup attempting to unite the island with Greece. Backed by Ankara, right-winger Tatar is running in Sunday's presidential election in northern Cyprus against the incumbent, Mustafa Akinci, seen as a pro-reunification moderate. Turkey, the only country that recognises the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), has long planned to open Varosha. Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed Tatar's announcement as a "courageous decision". "We hope Varosha will entirely open. We are ready to give any support to TRNC officials on this issue," Erdogan said. "It is an undisputed fact that Varosha is a Turkish Cypriot territory. The decision about it rests with the Turkish Cypriot authorities," he added. In northern Nicosia, an angry Akinci said the Varosha announcement made in Ankara amounted to "interference in our elections" and a "disgrace for our democracy". Cyprus government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said it "strongly condemns the decision of occupier Turkey and its applauder Ersin Tatar to extend entry to the Varosha coast". It was "a pre-election stunt created in Ankara, on the eve of an election for a new Turkish Cypriot leader", he said. "This provocative and illegal action by Turkey will be denounced to the UN Security Council, EU and all international forums." The Security Council has passed several resolutions calling for UN administration of Varosha and for its original Greek Cypriot residents to return. In Brussels, EU enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi warned Tuesday that the Varosha announcement "does not help de-escalation in the region". Borrell said that the "events will cause increased tensions and risk complicating the efforts to resume talks on the settlement of the Cyprus issue."

North Cyprus to reopen disputed 'ghost town' with Turkish backing

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modis-week-long-us-visit-to-end-with-unga-address-on-friday-252137">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> met the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and reiterated <a href="Narendra Modi holds meetings with business leaders in New York">India’s</a> "consistent support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus."

The development comes at a time when Turkey has been very vocal and continues to back Pakistan's line on Kashmir. In fact, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke from the United Nations General Assembly on Kashmir, which may irk New Delhi.

Cyprus and Turkey don't have very good ties as Turkey occupies the northern part of the island country. Recently, Ankara threatened Cyprus with its plan to drill in what Nicosia says is their&nbsp;"exclusive economic zone".

Nicos Anastasiades speaking from UNGA said, "Turkey threatens Cyprus that there will be severe consequences if we proceed ahead with our energy programme... it threatens neighbouring states and energy companies, with which we are cooperating and have established conventional obligations".

Cyprus is called Europe's last divided country with its capital being referred to as the last divided capital of the continent. The Mediterranean island country was invaded by Turkey in 1974 and led to the formation of "Northern Cyprus", recognised only by Turkey. Turkey continues to retain its military presence in the region and has&nbsp;faced criticism for its actions by the United Nations Security Council.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and reiterated India’s "consistent support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and reiterated India’s "consistent support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus." The development comes at a time when Turkey has been very vocal and continues to back Pakistan's line on Kashmir. In fact, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke from the United Nations General Assembly on Kashmir, which may irk New Delhi. Cyprus and Turkey don't have very good ties as Turkey occupies the northern part of the island country. Recently, Ankara threatened Cyprus with its plan to drill in what Nicosia says is their "exclusive economic zone". Nicos Anastasiades speaking from UNGA said, "Turkey threatens Cyprus that there will be severe consequences if we proceed ahead with our energy programme... it threatens neighbouring states and energy companies, with which we are cooperating and have established conventional obligations". Cyprus is called Europe's last divided country with its capital being referred to as the last divided capital of the continent. The Mediterranean island country was invaded by Turkey in 1974 and led to the formation of "Northern Cyprus", recognised only by Turkey. Turkey continues to retain its military presence in the region and has faced criticism for its actions by the United Nations Security Council.

As Turkey raises pitch, India reaffirms support for Cyprus' territorial integrity

Greek Communist Party,- KKE supporters on Monday attempted to take down the statue of former US president Harry Truman in Athens as a medium of protest against Syria air strike carried out by the United State along with Britain and France.

Protesters used a metal grinder to try to cut off the statue's feet and tug it down with ropes before riot police intervened and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. The statue suffered minor damage. At least three protesters were injured, with blood trickling from their heads, a Reuters witness said.

Several hundred KKE supporters joined a march to the US&nbspEmbassy, a couple of miles from the statue, in the third demonstration in Athens against Saturday's air strikes on what Western powers said were Syrian chemical weapons installations.

"What we did today is a symbolic move against the US&nbspand the war (in Syria)," said Yorgos Perros, a member of the communist-affiliated union PAME. "The statue is a symbol of imperialism and the United States in Greece."

The 12-foot, bronze Truman statue, also not far from the prime minister`s office, has been a regular target of protesters who have vandalised or attacked it with paint against what they call American "imperialism" in Greece.

Many also believe Washington backed the military junta that ruled Greece from 1967-74 as well as the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 following a brief Greek-backed coup.

The statue had to be removed and restored in 1986 after being bombed. Truman was US&nbsppresident from 1945 to 1953.

Greek Communist Party,- KKE supporters on Monday attempted to take down the statue of former US president Harry Truman in Athens as a medium of protest against Syria air strike carried out by the United State along with Britain and France

Greek Communist Party,- KKE supporters on Monday attempted to take down the statue of former US president Harry Truman in Athens as a medium of protest against Syria air strike carried out by the United State along with Britain and France. Protesters used a metal grinder to try to cut off the statue's feet and tug it down with ropes before riot police intervened and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. The statue suffered minor damage. At least three protesters were injured, with blood trickling from their heads, a Reuters witness said. Several hundred KKE supporters joined a march to the US&nbspEmbassy, a couple of miles from the statue, in the third demonstration in Athens against Saturday's air strikes on what Western powers said were Syrian chemical weapons installations. "What we did today is a symbolic move against the US&nbspand the war (in Syria)," said Yorgos Perros, a member of the communist-affiliated union PAME. "The statue is a symbol of imperialism and the United States in Greece." The 12-foot, bronze Truman statue, also not far from the prime minister`s office, has been a regular target of protesters who have vandalised or attacked it with paint against what they call American "imperialism" in Greece. Many also believe Washington backed the military junta that ruled Greece from 1967-74 as well as the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 following a brief Greek-backed coup. The statue had to be removed and restored in 1986 after being bombed. Truman was US&nbsppresident from 1945 to 1953.

Greek communists vandalised Truman statue to protest against Syria air strike

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North Cyprus to reopen disputed 'ghost town' with Turkish backing

As Turkey raises pitch, India reaffirms support for Cyprus' territorial integrity

Greek communists vandalised Truman statue to protest against Syria air strike