Türkiye condemns Greek Cypriot remarks, EU bias on Cyprus issue

Türkiye has issued a strong condemnation of the Greek Cypriot Administration for what it calls a distorted narrative in speeches marking the start of its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that terms like "occupation," "invasion," and "division" used in the addresses bear no relation to the historical or current realities on the island of Cyprus.

Türkiye's Historical Counter-Narrative

Spokesperson Oncu Keceli asserted that the only legitimate claim of occupation dates back to 1963, when the Greek Cypriot side "seized the institutions of the partnership state" in violation of the constitution and the rights of Turkish Cypriots. This, the statement argues, is the foundational event that disrupted the bicommunal partnership, not the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation which followed a decade of violence and aimed to protect the Turkish Cypriot community.

Criticism of the EU's Partiality

The Ministry's statement also took aim at the European Union itself, accusing its officials of actions that "once again disregard the existence of Turkish Cypriots." It argued this demonstrates the EU's biased stance, which contradicts the fundamental human values it professes to uphold. Furthermore, Türkiye criticized the Greek Cypriot side for "misusing the EU Presidency" to promote its uncompromising positions, proving the bloc cannot be a "neutral and constructive actor" in resolving the Cyprus issue.

Implications for the Cyprus Peace Process

This sharp rebuke underscores the deep diplomatic rift over Cyprus and Türkiye's firm position that any solution must be based on the political equality and sovereign equality of the two existing states on the island. It rejects what Ankara sees as a one-sided narrative that ignores Turkish Cypriot rights and historical grievances, a stance central to Türkiye's foreign policy in the Eastern Mediterranean.