Turkish President Recep Erdogan has been accused of breaking United Nation's resolutions after a visit to Northern Cyprus in order to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of the 'nation'. No country in the world apart form Turkey recognises Northern Cyprus as a nation, which was occupied by Turkish forces after an invasion of the island in 1974. At the time of the invasion Cyprus was part of the Greek state.
Erdogan was met by the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar after which they both watched a military parade. Erdogan then opened a hospital and they both visited the town of Famagusta.
Certain areas of the town of Famagusta were closed after the Turkish invasion in 1974 and many Greek residents fled as refugees. These residents believed that they would at some point be able to return, however earlier this year the Turkish state gave the go-ahead to begin redevelopment of the area, meaning many Greek refugees will now lose their properties. The United Nations and European Union have condemned this action.
The Turkish Ministry of Defence posted about Erdogan's visit, stating on Twitter:
"Happy birthday to the anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which 37 years ago, determining its own destiny, declared its independence and freedom. Turkey, as in 1974, stood by its Turkish Cypriot brothers, so today it is governed by the same spirit of support towards the Turkish Cypriot."
37 yıl önce kendi kaderini tayin ederek bağımsızlığını ve özgürlüğünü ilan eden Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti’nin kuruluÅŸ yıl dönümü kutlu olsun.
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) November 15, 2020
Türkiye, 1974 yılında nasıl Kıbrıs Türkü kardeÅŸlerinin yanında durduysa bugün de aynı ruhla Kıbrıs Türkü’nün yanındadır. pic.twitter.com/drR2lAdT84
The visit has caused an outbreak of protests in Northern Nicosia, an area occupied by the Turkish state. Thousands gathered to oppose the breaking of international law and to stand up for their rights.
Organised by the Democracy and Will platform, the residents have been outraged by the Turkish state's interference in the North of the country. This includes Ankara's intervention in last month's Northern Cypriot elections.
The march was attended by the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, the leader of main opposition Republican Turkish Party Tufan Erhurman, and the leader of the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit.
The Cypriot communist party AKEL, which supports a federal solution to the division of Cyprus, and opposes Erdogan's nationalism, released a statement in which it said that the protests were part of a:
"Common struggle for an island where the Cypriots alone, freely and democratically, will decide on their internal affairs, without the involvement of any third parties."
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