NICOSIA, Cyprus — Turkey’s president mentioned Monday that any deal resolving Cyprus’ practically half-century ethnic division should be primarily based on recognition of a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state within the island nation’s northern third.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks within the north throughout his first abroad go to after his reelection final month aren’t new, however counsel that Ankara’s coverage line on Cyprus stays unwavering, regardless of worldwide condemnation of the two-state deal proposal that runs opposite to U.N. resolutions calling for a single, federated Cyprus.
“No one can bear to waste another 50 years of time,” Erdogan mentioned throughout a joint information convention with Turkish Cypriot chief Ersin Tatar. “If there is to be a return to the negotiating table, the only way to do this is to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”
It additionally dashes hopes harbored by Cyprus’ internationally-recognized authorities of a speedy return to negotiations, though a spokesman for President Nikos Anastasiades mentioned Monday that Erdogan shall be judged by his deeds somewhat than his phrases.
Cyprus was cut up in 1974 when Turkey invaded within the wake of a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkish Cypriots declared independence practically a decade later, however that’s solely acknowledged by Turkey, which maintains greater than 35,000 troops and an array of armaments within the north.
U.N.-led peace talks haven’t resolved the dispute. The most up-to-date spherical in July 2017 broke down over a Turkish insistence on sustaining navy intervention rights and a everlasting troop presence underneath any new association. Another stumbling block was a Greek Cypriot rejection of a Turkish Cypriot demand for the correct to veto all authorities choices on a federal degree. Turkish Cypriots quantity roughly a few quarter of Greek Cypriots.
PHOTOS: Turkey’s president unwavering on two-state coverage to resolve Cyprus’ ethnic division
Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots say it might be pointless to hold on negotiations primarily based on a federated Cyprus and have as an alternative pushed a two-state deal as a brand new place to begin. Greek Cypriots say they’ll’t comply with a deal that may formalize the nation’s division.
“The just demands of the Turkish Cypriots are clear and unequivocal. Turkish Cypriots have never been a minority and never will be,” Erdogan mentioned.
The Turkish president mentioned Ankara would additionally push forward with plans to produce Turkish Cypriots with electrical energy via an undersea cable. The north has for years skilled persistent energy provide points.
The electrical energy cable would complement 66.5-mile undersea pipelines Turkey constructed in 2015 to produce contemporary water to the arid north. The Cyprus authorities decried the pipeline challenge as a way for Ankara to “augment Turkey’s influence and control over Cyprus.”
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