Greece’s permanent goal is to end the Turkish occupation, says N. Kotzias to his message for the 42nd anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
Greece does not accept and will never accept the consequences of the Turkish invasion, underlines in his message for the 42nd anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus , Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, adding that Greece is and will remain at the side of Cyprus, helping and supporting the Cypriot Hellenism and the whole people of Cyprus.
In his message, Kotzias notes that today 42 years have passed from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, 42 years have passed from what was the beginning of the continuing illegal Turkish occupation of one third or more of the territory of Cyprus, a member state of the United Nations and the European Union. The consequences of the Turkish invasion, says N. Kotzias, include the uprooting of more than 200,000 Cypriots from their homes, the continuing humanitarian plight of missing persons, the systematic Turkish colonization until today of the occupied part of Cyprus according to Turkish Cypriots protests, and the looting of Greek and Christian heritage of the occupied areas.
Kotzias stresses that Greece has made clear to all sides that the Cyprus problem can’t be solved without the elimination of the anachronistic system of guarantees and without the withdrawal of all Turkish occupying troops, because, as confirmed once again with the latest events in Turkey, their presence undermines instead of ensuring the constitutional order and the democratic normality.
As he notes, the termination of the continuing Turkish occupation, which affects the rights of the Greek Cypriot but also those of the Turkish Cypriot Community, is a permanent concern and a top goal of the Greek foreign policy. Greece’ s aim is to find a just and lasting, comprehensive and agreed solution of the Cyprus problem, based on the relevant UN resolutions and the implementation of the community acquis throughout the island`s territory.
Greek Foreign Minister pays tribute to the memory of brothers who died in Cyprus in 1974 and he expresses respect and gratitude to all patriotic defenders of the Republic of Cyprus, Cypriots and Greeks. He concludes his message stressing that Greece is and will remain at the side of Cyprus, to help and support the Cypriot Hellenism and the whole people of Cyprus.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded the island. Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, have been engaged in UN-led talks since May last year, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
