This year marks a half-century since Türkiye’ s invasion of Cyprus, which led to the seizure and illegal occupation of one third of the island's territory by the Turkish army in violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and International Law, under the pretext of the junta's opportunistic coup against the legitimate president of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios.
The perpetuation of the current status quo, as well as the creation of two states in Cyprus, are not acceptable solutions to the Cyprus issue, neither for Greece nor for Europe. We remain committed to the solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, a negotiating framework which has been accepted as the basis for talks by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots since February 1977 and the "high level agreement" between the then President of the Republic of Cyprus Archbishop Makarios and the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. A federation with a single sovereignty, a single international legal personality and a single citizenship.
With utmost respect to the sovereign Cypriot people, who remain the final arbiter of any proposal, Greece will continue to support the efforts of both the Republic of Cyprus and the UN Secretary General to leverage every opportunity for a solution to the Cyprus issue. Finding a just, viable and mutually acceptable solution constitutes a top national priority. Without erasing history and with respect for the memory of the fallen and the missing, our compass remains the reunification of the island within the framework set out by the UN resolutions.
July 19, 2024