Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has urged the international community to stop the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from raising tensions during a scheduled visit to the north of the island on July 20, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported on Tuesday.
Christodoulides said it was critical that Erdoğan be stopped from making “more provocative and illegal actions” that would negatively affect the interests of the United States, the European Union, and the international community, according to Kathimerini.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 following a Turkish invasion that followed a coup supported by Greece’s military junta. The invasion was waged in the name of protecting Turkish Cypriots from the new Greek Cypriot government that came to power.
The Turkish president is scheduled visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to make a big announcement on July 20, celebrated as “Peace and Freedom Day” which marked the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
Erdoğan’s visit prompted political pundits on social media to wonder whether recent visits to the north by Pakistani dignitaries could signal an attempt by the Islamic Republic to establish diplomatic relations with a Turkish Cypriot administration currently recognized by no other country except Turkey, Kathimerini reported.
“We are using all available means, which are diplomatic, political, and legal means in order to stop Turkey,” Kathimerini cited Christodoulides as saying.
“We cannot allow Mr Erdoğan to deliver on his promises to announce, as he called it, ‘surprises to the world’ during his upcoming illegal visit to the occupied part of Cyprus,” Greek Cypriot minister added.
Ahval