Turkey’s ongoing efforts for the recognition of the pseudo-state, fall flat, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister to the President, Petros Demetriou, said on Tuesday in his address at an event organised in Larnaca by the Committees of Occupied Municipalities and Communities to condemn the unilateral declaration in 1983 of the regime in the northern, Turkish occupied part of the island.
Demetriou said that, “November 15, 1983, is a day when international law was brutally violated, once again, by those who, in July 1974 invaded our country and violated every concept of human rights, legality and justice.”
He also noted that, “the unilateral, separatist and illegal act of the declaration of the pseudo-state” and the effort since then for the preservation and recognition of this entity, “demonstrates the continued negative and inflexible attitude of occupier Turkey to comply with the Resolutions of the Security Council and to come to the negotiating table with honesty and a constructive attitude.”
Turkey’s efforts for the recognition of the pseudo-state, he added, continue, noting that these efforts “fall flat” due to the Republic’s targeted foreign policy, and Greece’s support.
Demetriou also noted that, this year’s anniversary of the declaration of the pseudo-state is accompanied by a further escalation of Turkish provocations, at all levels, adding that, it was “obvious”, that Turkey, with its actions, is trying to create new faits accomplis, “which, it considers, will force us to make concessions, thus prejudging the results of any negotiations.”
He also said that the Republic was “not alone” in the effort to deal with Turkey’s increasing provocations and revisionism, referring to Greece’s support and Cyprus’ position in the European Union.
The Deputy Minister to the President also noted the government’s commitment to a solution that will be consistent with the principles of international law, the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, the High-Level Agreements, the European acquis and the principles of the European Union, and to efforts to restart the talks.
During the event, a resolution was read and approved by the Committee of Occupied Municipalities and the Committee of Occupied Communities, which notes, among other things, that “Turkey, as the occupying power continues through its subordinate regime” efforts to demographically change the composition of the Cypriot population, while intensifies its illegal actions for the settlement of the fenced area of Varosha, “effectively closing the door” to the continuation of the talks for a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus issue.
In their resolution, the Committees demand from Turkey, among other things, “the rapid withdrawal of all its occupying troops and illegal settlers” from Cyprus, an immediate end to provocations, threats and illegalities in Varosha and in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Aegean, to abandon the pursuit of a two-state solution or a confederation and sincere cooperation for a quick resumption of the peace talks in Cyprus, on the basis of international law and the European acquis.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of 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.
The illegal regime in the northern part of the island, was unilaterally declared in November 1983 and the UN describe it as “legally invalid”, while no country, except Turkey, recognises it.
Source: Cyprus News Agency