Cyprus Times

Turkey Rejects Terms 'Invasion,' 'Occupation,' and 'Partition' Regarding Cyprus

Published January 9, 2026, 05:05
Turkey Rejects Terms 'Invasion,' 'Occupation,' and 'Partition' Regarding Cyprus

Turkey rejects the terms “invasion,” “occupation,” and “partition” in relation to the Cyprus issue, arguing that they do not align with historical reality. It maintains the view that the 1974 operation was a “peacekeeping operation” and that its presence on the island is legitimate under the Treaty of Guarantee. Simultaneously, it accuses the Greek Cypriot side of “occupying” the island since 1963. Turkey's reaction was triggered by the references made by President Christodoulides and EU leaders during the inauguration ceremony of the Cypriot Presidency in the EU Council, where these terms were used to describe the situation on the island. Turkey accuses the EU of applying double standards to the Cyprus issue and of supporting the “incompatible positions” of the Greek Cypriot side. Ankara insists that the Republic of Cyprus “usurped” the state in 1963, violating the Constitution and the rights of Turkish Cypriots. These statements are considered an attempt to revise history and create an alternative narrative for the Cyprus issue, which is rejected by the international community.