North Cyprus anniversary highlights renewed rivalry between Turkey, Greece
Ankara’s support for a two-state solution and efforts to legitimize Turkish Cypriot entity stir Greek anger.
ISTANBUL — Fresh fuel has been poured on simmering tensions between fellow NATO members Turkey and Greece following remarks about the future status of the ethnically divided island of Cyprus.
The anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which unilaterally declared independence from the internationally recognized Greek-controlled Republic of Cyprus in 1983, saw Mustafa Sentop, speaker of Ankara’s parliament, declare Turkey’s support for a two-state solution on the Mediterranean island.
“Today it has become clear that a solution in Cyprus will only be possible with two equal and sovereign states,” he told an audience in Lefkosa, as the Turkish part of the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, is known, on Monday.
“We will not turn from this path. We will never allow Turkish Cypriots, who are an essential element of the island, to be a minority in their homeland. We will make the whole world accept that the Turkish Cypriot people are as sovereign and equal as Greek Cypriots.”
