By John Q. Hosedrinker 
On the 42nd anniversary of Northern Cyprus’s unilateral declaration of independence, Greece’s foreign ministry reiterated its stance of non-acceptance, citing violations of international law. Greece vowed to never accept the results of the Turkish invasion and occupation. Furthermore, it urged all nations to uphold the Republic of Cyprus’s sovereignty and independence, advocating for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as a solution. Greece also acknowledged “recent diplomatic mobility,” including UN efforts and upcoming meetings, as steps toward restarting negotiations on the Cyprus problem.
Read the original article here
Greece pledges to ‘never accept, never recognise’ northern Cyprus ‘independence’. Let’s be honest, it’s not a shocker. Considering almost every nation on Earth, save for Turkey, doesn’t recognize it, why would Greece? Turkey has basically taken it over anyway, so it feels a bit hollow. It’s the same old story of a divided island, everyday people paying the price while governments play their geopolitical games. This frozen conflict has been going on for decades, and there’s no clear way forward.
Northern Cyprus is essentially a territory illegally annexed by Turkey through military action, and recognizing it would be similar to acknowledging the independence of regions like Donetsk or Luhansk in Ukraine. From Greece’s perspective, it’s understandable. It’s like when one country invades part of another, replaces the population, and then says, “Let the people decide.”
The truth is, Cyprus isn’t Greek, nor is it Turkish. It’s an independent country and the people living there should have the final say on their future. History is complex, and the blame doesn’t fall solely on one side. Greece had its own role to play in the turmoil. Then you had the British, playing their game of divide and conquer, and later the Turkish involvement with military action.
It’s been suggested that Cyprus should have been given to Greece after the end of World War II, a betrayal, as some would say, by Churchill. But realistically, the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus is mostly ethnically Greek, and the Cypriots themselves have the right to decide. There are those online, of course, who say “Cyprus is Greek,” ignoring the complexities of the situation and, ultimately, hindering any chance of a resolution. Turkey didn’t annex the territory, but it is illegally occupying it and allowed the population in the area to declare its independence.
It’s similar to Crimea, which is internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory, but occupied by Russia. The people living there face the worst of both worlds, regardless of the label attached to the territory. The whole of Cyprus is legally in the EU, but the occupied part has most of its treaties suspended until reunification. It’s a sad reality, but it’s the truth of the situation.
It’s important to remember that the people of Northern Cyprus are predominantly Turkish colonists who drove the Greek Cypriots off their land when the Turkish army invaded. This is an injustice that the Greek government supports reversing. Cyprus rejected a pro-Turk deal that was designed by the US and the UK and promoted by the West, though Greece remained neutral. And it’s not random people online saying “Cyprus is Greek” that are to blame, it’s a multitude of factors.
There are many factors that contribute to the current situation. The Turkish government isn’t interested in a fair deal, and most Greek Cypriots aren’t interested in a deal that doesn’t benefit them. After Cyprus rejected the Annan Plan, it joined the EU regardless, creating a status quo where Greek Cypriots reject any deal that isn’t directly in their interest.
The sad part of it all is how it affects the people living there. It’s an unfortunate situation for the people there, but it’s a conflict between cultures, and it’s a complicated situation that does not have an easy answer.
The status quo currently benefits Greece and Greek Cypriots. As a result of this situation, it is no longer a bi-lateral issue. It is now a EU issue, which Greece should use to its advantage. Turkey’s only realistic option is annexing the occupied part, which changes nothing for Greece. And if that were to happen, the Cypriot government would likely take a more aggressive stance, which might include sanctions on Turkey.