Protests mark 17th anniversary of the ‘TRNC’

GREEK Cypriots united yesterday in condemnation of the 17th anniversary of the unilateral declaration of the breakaway ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ in the occupied part of the island.

With the sirens wailing, people stopped whatever they were doing at 10am to protest at the Turkish Cypriot action, while parties and organisations issued written statements of condemnation.

At around 11am hundreds of pupils and students converged on the Ledra Palace checkpoint bordering the buffer zone in Nicosia to denounce the breakaway state which is only recognised by Turkey.

The protesters waved Greek and Cypriot flags, chanted slogans against the illegal state, and called for the withdrawal of Turkish troops.

The protest called on the international community to exercise its influence on Turkey to help pave the way for a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

In a petition to the UN, the students expressed their frustration at the continuing occupation of part of Cyprus, which they described as a “flagrant challenge to humanity which claims to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms”.

The student rally, which was supported by the education authorities, was more subdued than in past years when such rallies often erupted in violence. At the same time in the north part of Nicosia the climate was one of celebration as Turkish Cypriots marked 17 years since their declaration of ‘independence’ with declarations, parades and air shows.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said the day belonged to the courageous Turkish Cypriot people, and thanked all the Turks who had fought in Cyprus. He promised to those who died on the island that the flag would never be lowered.

Denktash criticised those who want a federal solution for Cyprus, saying that a people without a country were sentenced to remain slaves for ever.