Greek Cypriots dismiss a two-state deal as a non-starter. Both Greece and Cyprus have repeatedly said that they remain steadfastly committed to the goal of reunifying Cyprus within the framework of United Nations resolutions.
“We will not allow unilateral actions, nor will the Turkish Cypriot people succumb to threats,” Erdoğan said. “It is impossible to ignore the ancient and fundamental component of the island, the Turkish Cypriots.”
Cyprus has been divided into a Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot south since Turkish forces invaded in 1974, in response to a Greek-backed coup. Ankara does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state that is otherwise recognized internationally as the sole sovereign authority over the whole island. The Turkish Cypriot north is recognized only by Ankara.
Multiple attempts to find a compromise settlement over the years have failed, the last one in 2017 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland; and formal talks have not resumed since then.
The 50th anniversary of the invasion finds the island with the partition more entrenched than ever. This is the longest period it has passed without dialogue.
Mourning and jubilation
On Saturday, there were divergent moods in the island’s north and south, as Greek Cypriots mourned in emotional memorial events in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north celebrated in jubilant ceremonies. A protest against the occupation took place across the buffer zone, sending a message against separation.
