London: Marking the 42nd anniversary of the illegal unilateral declaration of the pseudo-state in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus, the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK delivered two resolutions yesterday, one to the British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and one to the Turkish Ambassador in London. The Federation called on London to actively encourage Turkey’s return to settlement talks and requested that Ankara revokes the illegal UDI.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the delegation, led by the Federation’s president, Christos Karaolis, first visited the Prime Minister’s residence on Downing Street to deliver the first letter. The delegation highlighted ‘the illegality and injustice of the Turkish invasion of 1974, the unilateral declaration of independence in 1983, and the continuing occupation.’ It reminded that these events led to the displacement of 200,000 Cypriots, as well as thousands of missing persons and dead. The letter emphasized that the non-recognition of the pseudo-state is consistent with international law and aligns with the clear position of the UN Security Council. It noted that the non-recognition has been a firm and longstanding position of successive UK governments.
The Federation called on the United Kingdom, as a permanent member of the Security Council, a guarantor power, and an ally of the Republic of Cyprus, to actively encourage Turkey’s return to negotiations. The letter stated, ‘The United Kingdom has a responsibility towards Cyprus to support a peace process based on the agreed UN framework.’
Later, Federation officials delivered a corresponding resolution to the Turkish Embassy in London, urging Ankara to revoke the illegal declaration of the pseudo-state and return to the negotiating table. The letter emphasized that reunification of Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, single sovereignty, a single international personality, and a single citizenship, as per UN resolutions, is the only viable solution.
The letter to the Turkish Ambassador noted, ‘History between Cyprus and Turkey, and more broadly with the international community, can be written differently.’ It reminded that the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, has already expressed his intention to invite Turkey to a summit during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026, indicating potential for a new dynamic in relations. The resolution concluded by emphasizing that ‘the only way forward is the reunification of Cyprus in line with the UN framework.’
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively.
An illegal breakaway entity declared independence unilaterally on November 15, 1983, in the areas under Turkish occupation, an action condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community as legally null and void. This declaration followed the partition of the island after the Turkish military invaded Cyprus in 1974, occupying one-third of its territory ever since.