UN official says world body committed to Cyprus peace deal
A senior United Nations official says the world body remains committed to helping rival Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots reach an agreement remedying the island nation's ethnic cleave that has been the source of instability in the east Mediterranean for decades.
Erdogan backs two-state Cyprus deal, puts talks in doubt
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Ersin Tatar, Turkish Cypriot President, salute flags-waving people during a ceremony, in Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. Erdogan attnded commemorations for the 37th anniversary of a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence on war-divided Cyprus. “A two-state solution must be discussed and negotiated on the bases of sovereign equality,” said Erdogan, who accused Greek Cypriots of sabotaging progress. Only Turkey recognizes a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north where it maintains more than 35,000 troops. The island’s internationally-recognized government seated in the island’s Greek Cypriot south accused Erdogan of dynamiting U.N.-led attempts for a return to peace talks.
Hardliner wins Turkish Cypriot leadership election
The newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar talks to his supporters after winning the Turkish Cypriots election in the Turkish occupied area in the north part of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. Ersin Tatar, a hardliner who favors even closer ties with Turkey and a tougher stance with rival Greek Cypriots in peace talks has defeated the leftist incumbent in the Turkish Cypriot leadership runoff. Only Turkey recognizes a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north that is economically and militarily dependent on Ankara. The island’s internationally recognized government has its seat in the Greek Cypriot south and is part of the 27-nation European Union. Turkish Cypriot broadcaster BRT says with 100% of the votes counted, Tatar secured 51.74% of the vote compared to 48.26% for Akinci.
Leftist, hard-liner in Turkish Cypriot leadership runoff
Turkish Cypriot leader and candidate Mustafa Akinci talks after casting his ballot at a polling station during the Turkish Cypriots election for a new leader in the Turkish occupied area in the north part of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Nedim Enginsoy)NICOSIA – A leftist incumbent will take on a hard-line challenger in a runoff to decide who will lead Turkish Cypriots in overcoming deep political chasms with rival Greek Cypriots to end a nearly half-century of ethnic division in Cyprus and quell tensions over offshore energy reserves. “Despite this, the Turkish Cypriot people managed to show their will at the ballot box," Akinci said. The Famagusta suburb has remained off-limits and under Turkish military control since 1974 when its Greek Cypriot residents fled advancing Turkish troops. U.N. resolutions said any attempt to settle the suburb with anyone other than its Greek Cypriot residents would be “inadmissible."