The efforts of the government are to lift the illegality that is the breakaway regime in the north and bring about the country’s reunification on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday.
In an announcement on the 33rd anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) in the north, the president said that this act resulted “in a damning response by the international community… and a call on UN member states not to recognise it”.
“Our effort was and remains the elimination of illegality both in the context of international law and EU principles, the reunification of our country on the basis of a bicommunal, bi-zonal federation and freedom from the occupation troops,” the president said.
Within this context, he said, is the current negotiation process which is “not between the pseudo-state and Cyprus, but between the two community leaders”.
This attempt, will continue again in Switzerland aiming to reach an agreement on the crucial issue of territory “which will allow us to proceed to the next step that will be a multi-party summit”, he added.
Political parties also issued announcements condemning the UDI.
In the north official celebrations began on Monday with the televised address by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.
In his address, Akinci said that the breakaway regime in the north was the result of the utilisation of the right to self-determination by Turkish Cypriots after they were forced out of the 1960 partnership state.
He said that he would continue to work for solution but that he would also use all of his power for the prosperity of the north.
Speaking to another event on Tuesday, Akinci said that the issue of security and guarantees was very important not only for the two communities, but also for the protection of the new situation post-solution.
He added that Turkish Cypriots could not be convinced simply with reassurances that nothing bad would happen to them as long as they were members of the European Union. Akinci expressed concerns over the rejection by some Greek Cypriot parties of the bicommunal bi-zonal federation. “If these parties become stronger, there is no guarantee that they will not question the settlement agreement, and that is why Turkey is needed as a deterrent force”.
A number of ceremonies took place in the north to mark the day. A ground-breaking ceremony was also held at the mausoleum of the former Turkish Cypriot leader, the late Rauf Denktash.
