BREAKING: UN Security Council condemns Turkish president's position on Cyprus

By 3 years ago

The UN Security Council condemned the position of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's position on Cyprus, which is in violation of several UN Security Council resolutions.

"The Security Council condemns the announcement in Cyprus by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders," said the statement, obtained by AFP.

Diplomats said the UN Security Council statement against Erdoğan and his Turkish-speaking Cypriot proxy Ersin Tatar was agreed upon by all members of the Council, comprising of the U.S., UK, France, Russia and China.

The Council is to formally adopt the statement later in the day, diplomats said.

"The Security Council expresses its deep regret regarding these unilateral actions that run contrary to its previous resolutions and statements," the statement said.

The U.S., France, China, Russia, and temporary UN Security Council Council members India and Ireland played constructive role in condemning Turkey and its leader.

The UK wanted to try and omit specifically mentioning Turkey and its leader, but failed.

It is also noted that there is a very clear condemnation of Turkey's actions in Cyprus, rather than just "strong concern" as we have become accustomed to from European Union statements.

Erdoğan on Tuesday announced the partial reopening of the seaside neighbourhood of Varosha in Famagusta during his announcements from the pseudo-state of occupied Northern Cyprus.

3.5% of Varosha, which is a militarised area following the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus in 1974, is opening according to the Turkish president.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in 1984 which said any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its original inhabitants, which was almost entirely Greek-Cypriot, is “inadmissible.”

It called “for the transfer of that area to the administration of the United Nations.”

A 1992 resolution reaffirmed the 1984 resolution and called for Varosha to be put under control of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Cyprus – but that has not happened.

Occupied Varosha.

On July 20, 1974, at 5:20am, 40,000 Turkish troops landed and invaded northern Cyprus after last-minute talks in the Greek capital, Athens, failed to reach a solution.

The Turkish troops under the command of Lieutenant Nurettin Ersin implemented their invasion plan, code-named ‘Attila’, illegally invading the island in violation of the UN Security Council Charter.

The international community strongly condemned the military invasion and rejected Turkey’s explanations.

In UN Security Council Resolution 353, that was adopted on the day of the invasion, the UN Security Council showed “equally concerned about the necessity to restore the constitutional structure of the Republic of Cyprus.”

It also called upon all States to “respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus” and demanded “an immediate end to foreign military intervention in the Republic of Cyprus."

Turkey not only ignored the international community but launched a second offence in August, 1974 and managed to seize more than one third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.

The atrocities of the Turkish army included repeated rapes of women of all ages, torture, savage and humiliating treatment of hundreds of people, including children, women and pensioners during their detention by the Turkish forces.

READ MORE: Hagia Sophia: Satisfaction in Athens with UNESCO’s response to Turkey.

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Athens Bureau