Nicosia: The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Thursday expressed strong disapproval over the European Union's appointment of a 'representative' for Cyprus, emphasizing that this decision, made at the behest of the Greek Cypriot administration, lacks legitimacy.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus's Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning the EU's action. The statement criticized the appointment of Raffaele Fitto, European Commission Vice-President, as the EU's special representative for Cyprus, highlighting that it disregarded the consent of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and ignored the will of the Turkish Cypriot people. The ministry viewed this as another instance of the EU's improper involvement in the ongoing Cyprus issue, especially following UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' recent engagement with Cyprus.
The statement further argued that the EU lost its impartial stance regarding the Cyprus issue upon admitting the Greek Cypriot Administration as a member in 2004 without considering the perspectives of the Turkish Cypriot community. This strategic error, the ministry claimed, emboldened the Greek Cypriot side's rigid stance, exacerbated the disparity between the two communities, and obstructed efforts towards a resolution.
The ministry underscored that the EU's decision to appoint a special representative was unacceptable, particularly when the UN itself had refrained from such an appointment. The statement declared that the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would not recognize or accept any actions undertaken by the EU representative in their capacity, nor acknowledge them as a legitimate interlocutor in any proceedings.
The decades-long Cyprus conflict, marked by ethnic tensions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, has persisted despite numerous diplomatic attempts by the UN to broker a comprehensive settlement. Tensions date back to the early 1960s, with ethnic violence leading Turkish Cypriots to retreat into enclaves for safety. In 1974, a coup by Greek Cypriots aimed at uniting the island with Greece prompted Turkey's military intervention to protect Turkish Cypriots, resulting in the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983.
Peace negotiations have been intermittent, with significant efforts, including a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland involving Turkey, Greece, and the UK as guarantor countries. The Greek Cypriot Administration's 2004 entry into the EU, coinciding with their obstruction of a UN plan to resolve the dispute, remains a pivotal moment in the conflict's history.