Nicosia: Today marks 42 years since the illegal declaration of the pseudo-state in the Turkish-occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus. On November 15, 1983, Turkey and the then Turkish Cypriot leadership declared the occupied territories of Cyprus as a ‘state’, which is recognized solely by Ankara. The international community did not acknowledge this unilateral action.
According to Cyprus News Agency, a series of resolutions by the UN Security Council not only condemned the declaration but also deemed it legally invalid, urging all UN member states to refrain from recognizing it. Resolutions 541 and 550 specifically condemn the attempted secession of part of Cyprus, calling for its revocation and emphasizing the importance of respecting the independence, territorial integrity, and unity of the Republic of Cyprus.
The anniversary of the proclamation of the pseudo-state has prompted condemnation from political parties and organizations through announcements and declarations. Students, political parties, and other groups are organizing anti-occupation events to mark the occasion.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and subsequent occupation of the northern third of the island. Despite multiple rounds of UN-led peace talks, a resolution has yet to be reached. The most recent negotiations, held in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended without a conclusive agreement.
The illegal declaration of independence by the breakaway entity on November 15, 1983, continues to be condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community, maintaining its status as legally null and void. The declaration followed the island’s partition after the Turkish military’s invasion in 1974, which resulted in the ongoing occupation of one-third of Cyprus.