The internationally unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has slammed a resolution passed by the European Parliament earlier in the week, bringing the Mediterranean island’s dispute back into the limelight once again. In July, five Greek Cypriot citizens were arrested in the Turkish Cypriot–controlled area after visiting their ancestral homes in a village called Galatia.
The northern authorities accused them of unauthorised entry, aiding or abetting unauthorised entry, violating a “forbidden military zone,” and, according to some reports, espionage. The European Parliament has since passed a resolution condemning the detentions and demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the five men. All five were released on bail this week, but some reports have said they still remain in the occupied north or cannot return home while their legal cases continue. The European Parliament’s vote was overwhelmingly in favour – 597 out of 602 MEPs present voted for the motion, with very few abstentions. The north’s “foreign ministry”, however, decried the resolution on Friday night (September 12), describing it as “slander”.
“The decision … which is incompatible with legal facts, constitutes a clear attempt to interfere with the independence of our judiciary and entirely reflects the views of the Greek Cypriot side,” it began.
It continued that the resolution “constitutes a new example of the European Union’s ongoing prejudiced stance on the Cyprus issue”, and that as such, “these and similar decisions and approaches are the clearest example of why the European Union can never be impartial or fair on the Cyprus issue”.
“We utterly reject the unfounded, historically and legally baseless allegations… The language used in the resolution clearly disregards the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot side over the island,” it said, adding that “the only occupation of this island was the usurpation of the 1960 partnership state by the Greek Cypriot side”.
It went on to criticise the resolution’s decision to “characterise Northern Cyprus as ‘EU territory'”. This, it said, “clearly demonstrates the extent to which the European Union is disconnected from the legal and practical realities on the island.”
The European Parliament has condemned what it described as “the occupying regime’s disregard for every notion of justice and its attempt at abduction and hostage-taking to escalate intimidation, and to target and influence those who attempt to visit their ancestral properties”. It urged Turkey to “provide the detainees with access to immediate medical care”, and called on the European Commission and the European external action service – the EU’s equivalent of a foreign ministry – to “take all necessary measures, including considering punitive measures, to secure their release”.
The Cyprus conflict is a long-running dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. After gaining independence from Britain in 1960, in 1974, a coup backed by Greece aimed to unite the island with Greece, prompting Turkey to invade and occupy the North.
Since then, Cyprus has been divided into the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus in the South and the Turkish-controlled North, which declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – recognised only by Turkey. The UN maintains a buffer zone (the “Green Line”) to avoid further tensions and hostilities. Peace talks have occurred for decades, but a lasting settlement has yet to be reached.
The trials the Greek Cypriots face are set to continue next week.