Nicosia: Ambassador of Ukraine to Cyprus, Sergii Nizhynskyi, has underscored that Ukraine will never acknowledge the legitimacy of the pseudostate in the Turkish-occupied regions of Cyprus and has condemned the ongoing Turkish occupation of the island.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Nizhynskyi made these remarks on Tuesday during a meeting at the House of Representatives in Nicosia. The gathering involved the Ukraine-Cyprus Friendship Group from the Ukrainian Parliament and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
In his address, Oleksandr Tkachenko, head of the Ukraine-Cyprus Friendship Group, updated participants on the recent developments in Ukraine, emphasizing the nation’s desire for peace. Tkachenko highlighted the challenges posed by Russia’s stringent conditions, which complicate efforts to reach a compromise. He expressed optimism that the ongoing consultations would eventually result in a viable solution.
Tkachenko further elaborated on the peace plan, indicating that key points will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting between the Presidents of Ukraine and the US. Critical issues on the agenda include the size of Ukrainian military forces and the potential withdrawal of troops from the Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian MP acknowledged Cyprus’s support for Ukraine and urged the House Foreign Affairs Committee to leverage its influence to help Ukraine in recognizing the 1932-33 famine as genocide. Tkachenko argued that acknowledging this historical atrocity is crucial for reinforcing bilateral ties, Christian values, and contributing to international security.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Successive UN-led peace negotiations have failed to resolve the issue, with the last major talks in 2017 ending without agreement. The declaration of independence by the Turkish-occupied areas in 1983 has been condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community as illegal, with Turkey being the only nation to recognize the breakaway entity.