Cyprus and Turkey trade words over frozen conflict

Cyprus and Turkey have traded harsh words on their frozen conflict, in a sign recent elections on both sides changed little.

Turkey’s occupation of Northern Cyprus

The “open wound” of Turkey’s 25-year old occupation of northern Cyprus formed the centrepiece of Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides’ speech at the European Parliament on Tuesday (12 June).

Erdoğan’s visit to Turkish-occupied Cyprus

Erdoğan went there on his first foreign trip since re-election earlier this month, called for international recognition of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and made thinly veiled military threats against Greece.

Cyprus calls for reunification

Cyprus, the UN, and the EU back a negotiated reunification instead.

Christodoulides calls for EU special envoy

He called for the appointment of a “senior European politician” to act as an EU special envoy on the conflict.

Turkey’s oil and gas drilling in Cyprus’ waters

And he described Turkey as a “potential spoiler” of regional peace due to its gas and oil drilling in Cyprus’ waters.

MEPs voice support for Christodoulides

MEPs from the main centre-right, centre-left, liberal, and green groups voiced strong support for him, in a sign of the European political mood.

Green MEPs criticise Christodoulides on immigration

But if the Greens backed Christodoulides on Turkey, they also criticised him on immigration.

Cyprus speaks out against Russian aggression in Ukraine

Christodoulides spoke out against Russian aggression in Ukraine in strident terms.

Cyprus’ ties with the Kremlin

Cyprus’ ruling elite used to have close ties with the Kremlin before Russian president Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine last year.

UK and US sanctions on Cypriots for Russia sanctions-evasion

The UK and US recently sanctioned seven Cypriots for Russia sanctions-evasion.