Cyprus Times

Turkey Rejects References to Occupation and Invasion at EU Presidency Ceremony

Published January 8, 2026, 18:06
Turkey Rejects References to Occupation and Invasion at EU Presidency Ceremony

Turkey rejected references to occupation and invasion in Cyprus during the official opening ceremony of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU. In a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the terms “occupation,” “invasion,” and “division” as incompatible with the historical and contemporary realities of the island. Turkey claims that the only “occupation” in Cyprus stems from the violation of the Constitution by the Greek Cypriot side in 1963 and the marginalization of Turkish Cypriots. It accused the EU of double standards, as it ignores the existence of Turkish Cypriots. Furthermore, Turkey accused the Greek Cypriot side of abusing the EU presidency to promote its distorted rhetoric and uncompromising positions on the Cyprus issue, arguing that the EU cannot be a neutral and constructive factor in resolving the Cyprus dispute.