Cypriots

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has advocated for a two-state solution as the only viable resolution to the longstanding conflict on the divided island of Cyprus.

Cypriots are packing their luggage to travel abroad, taking advantage of the festive season. As the bookings made to the association of travel agents (ACTA) show for December and generally all of 2023, it will be a record year for trips by Cypriots to foreign countries.

Turkish Cyprus is marking the 40th anniversary of its foundation on Nov. 15 with various ceremonies and events across the country, as delegations from Türkiye and Azerbaijan also participate in the celebrations on the island.

Ankara is maintaining a harsh stance in relation to Cyprus, as seen by its reaction to an arson attack on a mosque in Limassol and its posture at the buffer zone in the Pyla area when Turkish Cypriots attacked members of the UN peacekeeping force.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the arson attack on a mosque in Limassol in Greek Cyprus, citing the incident as another example of the growing Islamophobia across Europe.

Turkey's foreign minister accused the United Nations of abandoning its neutrality on Tuesday, a day after the UN Security Council criticized construction work by Turkish Cypriots inside the buffer zone dividing Cyprus and condemned their assault on UN peacekeepers.

Türkiye's president on Aug. 21 criticized U.N. peacekeepers for blocking the construction of a road in Turkish Cyprus, calling the action "unacceptable" and accusing the peacekeeping force of bias against Turkish Cypriots.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye would not allow any "unlawful" behavior toward Turks on Cyprus.

The UN Security Council on Monday called unauthorized construction by Turkish Cypriots inside the UN buffer zone dividing Cyrus a violation of the status quo that is contrary to council resolutions and it condemned their assault on UN peacekeepers.

Turkey's president on Monday criticized UN peacekeepers for blocking the construction of a road in ethnically divided Cyprus, calling the action "unacceptable" and accusing the peacekeeping force of bias against Turkish Cypriots.

US Representative John Sarbanes holds Turkish President Erdogan accountable for the attacks by Turkish Cypriots against UN peacekeepers in Pyla and calls on US President Joe Biden to ensure that the crisis is "meaningfully addressed" by the United Nations.