Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the illegal visit of the President of Turkey to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus condemns the illegal visit of the President of Turkey Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus to launch a project that highlights and promotes the secessionist entity, in violation of international law and the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

In this context, the symbolic character attempted to be given to the illegal visit is fully in line with the upsurge in Turkish rhetoric on the “two-state solution”, revealing, at the same time, Turkish intentions for exercising full control over the occupied areas of Cyprus.

The visit follows recent statements by Mr. Tatar on the expectation of further actions to promote the pseudo-state, but also Ankara’s efforts to impose its will on Turkish Cypriots on issues related to the cultural identity of the Turkish Cypriot community, as highlighted through the effort to introduce the headscarf in schools.

It adds to the ongoing violations of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, which have been ongoing for fifty-one years and which the international community has condemned.

At a time of intense efforts aimed at creating conditions for the resumption of negotiations under the auspices of the UN and the achievement of a solution to the Cyprus Issue on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, as well as yesterday’s announcement of the appointment of Ms. María Angela Holguín Cuéllar as the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, such actions and positions undermine the entire effort to achieve progress towards substantial negotiations, and are disrespectful to International Law and to the United Nations.

The Government of the Republic of Cyprus remains committed to the ultimate goal of the reunification of our country, on the basis of the agreed UN framework, and to safeguarding the interests of all Cypriots in a free and reunited EU Member State.