The European Parliament has for the first time recognized Cypriot women who became victims of crimes during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 as victims of war.

The corresponding resolution was adopted by 575 votes in favor and 33 against. The document was prepared on the basis of a report by Greek lawmaker Eleonora Meleti of the New Democracy party.

The resolution condemns the Turkish military intervention and the ongoing occupation of part of Cyprus’s territory. The European Parliament also recognized sexual violence as a weapon of war and called for the restoration of victims’ rights, the payment of compensation and support for those affected, as well as for those responsible to be held accountable in accordance with international law.

Speaking in Strasbourg, Meleti recounted the testimonies of women whom representatives of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) met during a visit to Cyprus. According to her, the consequences of the violence continue for them through stigmatization, isolation, marginalization and loneliness.

Supporters of the resolution described the vote as political and moral recognition of the suffering of Cypriot women.

Ankara, for its part, sharply condemned the document. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the resolution contains “baseless and absurd accusations” against the Turkish armed forces and is “invalid.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also said it supports the position of the Foreign Ministry of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which called the resolution an example of the European Union’s “biased and distorted approach” to the Cyprus issue. In Ankara’s view, EU institutions are increasingly departing from “historical realities and the principle of impartiality” when addressing this topic.