A statement by GUE/NGL on Turkey’s intervention in the Turkish-Cypriot community’s leadership elections. 

“In the last few months, we have been witnessing unprecedented interference by Turkey on Turkish-Cypriot affairs, and this rose dramatically during the recent elections for the Turkish-Cypriot leader.”

“In an attempt to support a candidate who openly denounces a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus Problem, based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation as the UN parameters foresee, Turkey opened a part of the sealed-off city of Varosha. The UN Security Council and the EU have already condemned this move.

“At the same time, Turkey has been openly challenging the candidacy of the current leader Mustafa Akıncı, who believes in a federal state and peaceful co-existence of the two communities. Turkish authorities used and are still using all possible means to make sure that he loses these critical elections.

“As GUE/NGL, we call upon Turkey, before the second round of the elections (18th October), to stop intervening and to respect the political will of the Turkish-Cypriot community.

“We also urge the EU to take all necessary actions towards Turkey – an EU candidate country – so that the Turkish government respects the UN Security Council resolutions regarding Varosha.”

Photo courtesy of Marco Fieber on Flickr