Cyprus: France denounces a “unilateral step” by Erdogan and “a provocation”

Published on : 07/21/2021 – 11:48

France expressed its support for Cyprus on Wednesday the day after a trip to the island of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On this occasion, the Turkish president once again called for talks on the basis of separate “two states” on the island and proposed to repopulate a city abandoned since the Turkish intervention in 1974.

In a telephone interview, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian gave his support to his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides after Turkey’s “unilateral and uncoordinated step”, “which constitutes a provocation and undermines the restoration of the confidence necessary for the urgent resumption of negotiations with a view to a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus question “, we read in a press release from the Quai d’Orsay.

This subject will be discussed Thursday at the United Nations Security Council, of which France holds the monthly presidency, it is specified in the document.

Recep Tayyip Erdogann was visiting the divided capital of the Mediterranean island on Tuesday to commemorate the takeover of the northern part of Cyprus by the Turkish army on July 20, 1974.

Supporter of talks on the basis of separate “two states”, he also announced the continued reopening of the ghost town of Varosha (called Maras in Turkish), a former seaside resort whose abandonment symbolizes the division of the island. .

This initiative, denounced by the international community, is judged by the Greek Cypriots as a roundabout maneuver aimed at confiscating land.

Cyprus has been separated since 1974 between a Greek part recognized by the European Union and a Turkish part not recognized by the international community, with the exception of Ankara.

On Tuesday, the EU’s foreign minister, Josep Borrell, said he was “concerned” by the Turkish president’s announcements.

“The EU once again stresses the need to avoid unilateral actions contrary to international law and further provocations, which could increase tensions on the island and jeopardize the resumption of talks for a comprehensive settlement of the issue Cypriot, “he said in a statement.

With Reuters