“Europe must finally stop turning a blind eye to Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus,” emphasized New Democracy MEP Dimitris Tsiordas during his speech yesterday in the plenary session of the European Parliament. He added, “The self-declaration of the pseudo-state in Northern Cyprus was a blatant provocation against international legality. Its continued existence is an open wound on the body of Europe.”

Speaking at the parliamentary session on the self-declaration of the pseudo-state, Mr. Tsiordas delivered a pointed intervention, highlighting national positions and demanding full European solidarity: “Europe cannot and must not ‘normalize’ this barbaric illegality, which has persisted for decades on its own soil — on the territory of an EU member state! European solidarity with Cyprus must be absolute, complete, enduring, and active — until justice is achieved! The illegal secessionist entity, which brazenly declares itself a state and seeks international recognition, has no independent legitimacy: it is merely a disguise for the occupation regime imposed on the northern part of Cyprus, existing solely due to the presence of Turkish invasion and occupation forces.”

Mr. Tsiordas also emphasized the broader implications of Europe’s stance on the Cyprus issue in the context of today’s global developments: “Our refusal to accept the outcomes of Turkey’s invasion and occupation of Cyprus sends a message to those who seek revisionism and border changes today,” he stated. He concluded, “The occupation of European territory is a challenge to Europe itself and must be addressed as such. The European Union must exert all its influence to achieve a solution based on UN resolutions. The occupation and division of Cyprus must end!”