The administration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Ankara, has sent a letter to the UN accusing Greek Cypriots of “distorting history“ and “refusal to assume responsibility for the Cyprus issue“, reported the “Cyprus Mail“, quoted by BTA.
The letter, sent by the representative of the Turkish Cypriots Mehmet Dana, was sent to the President of the UN Security Council for April Jerome Bonnefon in connection with a recent debate on UN peacekeeping missions.
In the letter, Dana stated that the presence of Turkish military personnel on the island of Cyprus “cannot be considered an occupation“ and is “legitimate and justified under international treaties“.
“The Greek Cypriots must be sincere in seeking a solution based on the current state of the island“, Dana added, calling for direct talks between the two countries, instead of holding similar talks with Turkey.
In his letter, Dana criticized the UN peacekeeping forces in Cyprus, stating that their operations, which are not always approved by the Turkish Cypriots, violate the “principle of consent by both sides“.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 after the Turkish army invaded in response to a coup by Greek nationalists. In 1983, the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared in the northern part of the island, which, however, remains recognized only by Ankara. The island is a key source of disagreement between Greece and Turkey, NATO allies.
Despite their agreement to confidence-building measures, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots remain at odds over how any solution to the issue would work. Greek Cypriots want a federation - a model also enshrined in UN resolutions - while Turkish Cypriots advocate a two-state solution, arguing that decades of failed negotiations have proven the federal model unworkable.