The violent division of Cyprus from Turkish occupation troops and efforts to depict a separate state entity has failed, stated Minister of Education and Culture Kyriakos Kenevezos.
In a message on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the illegal unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) by the Turkish Cypriots in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus in November 1983, Kenevezos said the Turkish action to declare the occupied areas to an independent state was a move planned many years before, since the birth of the Republic of Cyprus when the Turkish Cypriots main slogan was taksim (division).
“The violent division and partition of our country from Turkish occupation forces and efforts for the emergence of a separate legal entity for 30 years now, have failed”, he added.
“Any effort to promote this monstrosity at international fora has piteously failed, since the Republic of Cyprus is not a ‘mere’ community but an internationally recognized state, equal member of the United Nations and a member state of the European Union”, said Kenevezos.
Thirty years later, he added, “we pledge our determination and are sending the message everywhere that we do not write off homelands and we will not yield to slavery; we insist in freeing and reuniting our homeland to create conditions of freedom and prospect for welfare and progress for its citizens”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
In November 1983, Turkey instigated and endorsed a “unilateral declaration of independence” in the occupied area by the Turkish Cypriot leadership. The self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime has not been recognized by anyone other than Turkey, which exercises effective control over it.
UN Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984) categorically condemned this unilateral action, declared it legally invalid, called for its withdrawal, and called on all UN member-states not to recognize this illegal entity. The EU and other international and regional organizations have adopted similar positions.
