The European Union rejects the attempts by the Organisation of Turkic States to legitimise the Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity, the so-called, internationally not recognised, 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', as an observer in the Organisation of Turkic States, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has said. He noted in a statement that this decision, pending ratification of Organisation's members, is regrettable and is contradicting the fact that several members of the Organisation expressed strong support to the principle of territorial integrity and the UN Charter. The EU, he added, "has made it repeatedly clear, including at highest political level, that the EU recognises only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law, in accordance with the respective UN Security Council Resolutions". Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's participation at the informal summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in Shusha on 5-6 July took place, exclusive ly, in the framework of the bilateral relations between Hungary and this organisation, Borrell further said. Hungary, he added, "is now the EU Member State serving the rotating presidency of the Council until 31 December 2024. That does not entail any external representation of the Union which is the responsibility of the President of the European Council at the Head of State or Government level and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at Ministerial level". Hungary has not received any mandate from the EU Council to advance the relations with the Organisation of Turkic States, Borrell stated. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island's northern third. A unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) took place on 15 November 1983. The illegal declaration was condemned by UN Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984) which called it legally invalid and asked for its immediate withdrawal. Resolution 550, also called upon all States not to recognize the purported state of the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' set up by secessionist acts nor to facilitate or in any way assist that secessionist entity. The pseudostate is recognised only by Turkey. Source: Cyprus News Agency