The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the illegal visit of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.
In a press release the Ministry said that it “condemns the illegal visit of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus to celebrate the solemn anniversary of the Turkish invasion.”
This action, it said, “is added to the continued, for 51 years now, violations against the sovereignty, the indepedence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus which the international community has repeatedly condemned through relevant UNSC resolutions.”
“The Government will remain committed to the ultimate goal of the liberation and reunification of Cyprus, based on the agreed UN framework, through a sustainable solution that is in accordance with international law and that will safeguard the rights and prosperity of all Cypriots,” the Ministry added.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
A second informal meeting on Cyprus in broader format was held in New York, on July 16-17, 2025. Another meeting is anticipated later this year, to follow up on initiatives, agreed by the parties, which the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said they demonstrate a commitment to continuing a dialogue on the way forward. Guterres also announced that he would meet jointly with Cyprus leaders during the General Assembly high-level week, in September.
The two sides in Cyprus continue discussions on outstanding issues, including the opening of crossing points and a solar energy installation in the buffer zone. They also agreed to cooperate on a number of issues, including the exchange of cultural artifacts, while Maria Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, will continue her efforts.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holguín.
An illegal breakaway entity declared independence unilaterally, on November 15, 1983, in the areas under Turkish occupation, an action condemned by the UN Security Council and the international community as legally null and void. Only Ankara recognises the illegal regime in the north.
