The Government of the Republic of Cyprus “declares its opposition to partition of the island and a willingness to continue working hard to end the occupation by Turkey of the northern territories of the country.” This was stated by government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou, on the occasion of the anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This state formation occurred in 1983 and is still not recognized by any state except Turkey, ITAR-TASS.

“The Republic of Cyprus expresses its desire to solve the Cyprus problem, to unify the country and its people in the bi-communal federation with political equality, with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international personality, as stipulated in UN resolutions”, - said Stefanos Stefanou.

He stressed that “the mere fact that the illegal regime in northern Cyprus arranges celebrations on the occasion of his self-proclamation, which involve the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community and other representatives of Turkey, indicates the absence of goodwill and genuine desire to reach a settlement by the Turkish Cypriot side.

Rallies and protests are held in the capital of the Republic of Cyprus and other major cities today on the occasion of the proclamation of the TRNC. At the same time festivities took place to the north of the dividing lines in which the chief guest was the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Cemil Cicek. The highlight of the program was a show of Turkish military aircrafts and naval units. The leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Dervis Eroglu said that “Cyprus is not an occupied land and the Turkish army is here to prevent the extermination of the Turkish Cypriots.”

Such a statement provoked a sharp reaction from Stefanos Stefanou: “The positions expressed by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community and the repeated Turkish officials, the existence of the two republics on the island contrary to UN resolutions on Cyprus. Turkey illegally invaded Cyprus in 1974 and is illegally occupying 37% of the territory.”