London: The Famagusta Association UK organized a protest outside Turkey’s embassy in London on Thursday evening, marking the eve of the 41st anniversary of the unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) of the pseudo-state in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the president of the Famagusta Association, Dr. Vassilis Mavrou, delivered a speech at the rally attended by UK Cypriots. He emphasized that the so-called ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ is recognized solely by Turkey, noting that UN Security Council resolutions have dismissed the UDI. Dr. Mavrou accused Turkey and President Erdogan of undermining UN efforts to resume negotiations for a fair settlement of the Cyprus issue by insisting on the existence of two ‘states’ on the island.
Dr. Mavrou also addressed concerns regarding the presence of Turkish settlers in the occupied north, describing it as an ‘ethnic cleansing’ and criticizing the destruction of religious and cultural monuments. He reaffirmed
the Association’s commitment to advocating for the return of Famagusta’s rightful inhabitants to their occupied town under the internationally recognized government of the Republic of Cyprus.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and subsequent occupation of its northern third. Despite various rounds of UN-led peace talks, a resolution has yet to be achieved. The most recent negotiations, held in July 2017 at Crans-Montana in Switzerland, ended without agreement. The illegal breakaway entity declared independence on November 15, 1983, a move condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community as legally void.