Marking of Greek union policy 'against Cyprus talks'

ANKARA

The Greek Cypriot administration should reverse its decision to commemorate the 1950 vote to unite with Greece, EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik has said.

Late last month, the Greek Cypriot parliament voted to introduce a yearly public school commemoration of the 67-year-old referendum on Enosis, as union with Greece is known.

“Cyprus is a national issue for Turkey,” Celik told Anadolu Agency's Editors’ Desk on Wednesday. “Enosis commemoration in schools is opposed to the spirit of the solution and all the negotiations. They need to fix it first.”

Talks on the reunification of Cyprus resumed in May 2015. It is envisaged the Greek and Turkish communities would be brought together under a federal system.

Celik said the decision to commemorate Enosis showed Greek Cypriots were not ready for two-state federal solution.

The eastern Mediterranean island was divided after a 1974 coup was followed by violence against the island’s Turkish population and Turkey’s intervention to protect them.

Reporting by Sultan Cogalan:Writing by Burcu Arik

ANKARA

The Greek Cypriot administration should reverse its decision to commemorate the 1950 vote to unite with Greece, EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik has said.

Late last month, the Greek Cypriot parliament voted to introduce a yearly public school commemoration of the 67-year-old referendum on Enosis, as union with Greece is known.

Talks on the reunification of Cyprus resumed in May 2015. It is envisaged the Greek and Turkish communities would be brought together under a federal system.

Celik said the decision to commemorate Enosis showed Greek Cypriots were not ready for two-state federal solution.

The eastern Mediterranean island was divided after a 1974 coup was followed by violence against the island’s Turkish population and Turkey’s intervention to protect them.

Reporting by Sultan Cogalan:Writing by Burcu Arik