The Cyprus issue is a European issue that the EU institutions will continue to address in order to reunify “the last divided EU member state,” says Von der Leyen.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated European support for the reunification of Cyprus, as well as its territorial integrity and sovereignty, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of the island.
“On this tragic anniversary and every day, we stand with Cyprus. Cypriots deserve to live in a reunited country in conditions of peace, coexistence, stability and prosperity,” said von der Leyen. in a social media post.
Today, on this tragic 50th anniversary, and every day, we stand with Cyprus.
We support territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Cypriots deserve to live in a reunited country in conditions of peace, coexistence, stability and prosperity.
The Cyprus issue is…
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 20, 2024
In his view, the Cyprus issue is a European issue that the EU institutions will continue to address in order to reunify “the last divided EU Member State” in accordance with UN resolutions.
For his part, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Hristodulides, expressed his gratitude for the support and efforts to “put an end to the Turkish occupation”.
The Turkish army invaded Cyprus on 20 July 1974, in response to a coup d’état led by the Greek military junta, which aimed to overthrow the Cypriot president, Archbishop Makarios III, and annex the island.
What Ankara still calls a “peace operation” ended after a month of UN intervention – in August 1974 – by establishing a neutral zone between the two sides, controlled by the “blue helmets”.
In 1983, the northern part, under Turkish military control, was proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRCN), recognised only by the Ankara government.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Cyprus, in the Greek Cypriot south – the Republic of Cyprus – and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the self-proclaimed TRNC.
Source: Observadora
