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In his speech on the anniversary of the invasion in 1974, the Turkish President reiterated Ankara’s support for the self-proclaimed TRNC.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that peace talks on the future of Cyprus can only be conducted between the “two countries” on the divided Mediterranean island.
In a speech on Tuesday in the divided capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s support for the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). dispute This is hurting Turkey’s relations with the European Union and Greece.
“The new negotiation process can only be carried out between the two countries. We are right and we will defend our rights to the end,” he said.
The Greek Cypriots, who represent the island internationally and are backed by the European Union, reject the two-State agreement, which means that they consider the sovereign status of a separate country illegal.
Turkey is the only country in the world that recognizes North Korea and retains 35,000 soldiers there.
Erdogan’s speech came on the occasion of TRNC’s commemoration of the 47th anniversary of the Turkish invasion that divided the island into two.
Under the red and white Turkish and Turkish Cypriot flags, the celebration in the north of Nicosia contrasts sharply with the gloomy atmosphere in the south, where Greek Cypriots were awakened by airstrike sirens, marking the landing of Turkish troops nearly half a century ago That day.
The Turkish invasion of 1974 occurred five days after the Greek Cypriot coup was planned by the military government that ruled Greece at the time.
Decades of disagreement
For decades, the United Nations has been trying to reintegrate Cyprus into a bi-regional federation—until recently, the two sides were able to reach agreement in principle.
But in April, the world agency Failed to bridge differences Regarding the resumption of peace talks, the talks broke down during the fierce debate in 2017.
In recent years, due to the competition for maritime energy reserves and the recent reopening of parts of Varosha by the Turkish Cypriots, a ghost resort that was the center of Cyprus’ tourism industry before 1974, the rising dispute has caused People are paying more and more attention.
Erdogan is expected to visit Varosha later on Tuesday as part of his Two-day official visit To TNRC.
Turkish Cypriot officials announced a possible resettlement plan for Varosha on Tuesday, a move that could also anger Greek Cypriots because they basically own areas that the United Nations believes should be placed under the control of peacekeepers.
The Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar stated that his government will cancel Varosha’s military status by about 3.5% and allow beneficiaries to apply to the committee responsible for providing compensation or restoring property.
On Monday, Erdogan stated that a “permanent and sustainable solution” to the division of the island “can only become possible” considering “two independent countries and two independent peoples”.
“The international community will accept this reality sooner or later,” Erdogan told Turkish Cypriot legislators in the Separated Zone of Northern Cyprus, adding that Ankara will build a new government complex to symbolize the state of Northern Cyprus.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades stated that Erdogan’s remarks are “an expected repetition of Turkey’s unacceptable position”.
The EU also ruled out a two-state agreement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Lein stated in Nicosia earlier this month that the 27 member states that Cyprus joined in 2004 will accept such an arrangement “forever and forever”.
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