Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Friday that Turkey’s ongoing crime and the continuing occupation of Cyprus can neither be erased nor concealed, stressing that the struggle for a free and reunited Cyprus continues.
In a post on X marking 52 years since the launch of the second phase of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, on August 14, 1974, Kombos said that the consequences of the invasion remain a constant reminder of the need to continue efforts for reunification.
‘Turkey’s ongoing crime and the continuing occupation can neither be erased nor concealed, and will never be forgiven,’ the Foreign Minister said.
He referred to Famagusta, Morphou and the other occupied towns and villages, as well as to the displaced, the fallen and the missing persons, saying that they serve as a reminder that “We will Never Forget”.
“The struggle for a free and reunited Cyprus continues”, Kombos concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.