Celebrations and lamentations coincide as Cyprus marks 50 years since split

Turkish president dampens hopes for restarting talks on Cyprus’ 50-year ethnic split

1 of 25 |

sound of unseen assault rifles being cocked carries across the United Nations-controlled buffer zone in ethnically cleaved Cyprus, ratcheting up concerns that the embers of the island’s stagnant conflict could again be rekindled. The rifles are just the tip of a string of recent escalations by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots; rivals separated along the 180-kilometer (120-mile) buffer zone that snakes through the capital’s medieval centre.

2 of 25 |

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, and Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, rear right, talk with a woman after the end of a military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Today marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

3 of 25 |

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis talks during an event marking the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion on 1974, at the Presidential palace in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Greek Cypriot commemorations include the unveiling of memorials to fallen heroes, church services and a gathering late Saturday at the Presidential Palace addressed — for the first time — by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

4 of 25 |

Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides talks during an event marking the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion on 1974, at the Presidential palace in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Greek Cypriot commemorations include the unveiling of memorials to fallen heroes, church services and a gathering late Saturday at the Presidential Palace addressed — for the first time — by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

5 of 25 |

Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, right, with his wife Philippa Karsera, second left, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, center, his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis, left, and Cypriot Deputy minister of culture Vasiliki Kasianidou, center right, look an art work “NEMATA” showing the Cyprus island, at the presidential palace in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Greek Cypriot commemorations include the unveiling of memorials to fallen heroes, church services and a gathering late Saturday at the Presidential Palace addressed — for the first time — by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

6 of 25 |

Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, right, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis talk during their meeting in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Greek Cypriot commemorations include the unveiling of memorials to fallen heroes, church services and a gathering late Saturday at the Presidential Palace addressed — for the first time — by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

7 of 25 |

Cyprus President, second left, Nicos Christodoulides attends the memorial service for the soldiers, killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 50th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou)

8 of 25 |

A woman touches a photo at the grave of her relative, killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 50th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou)

9 of 25 |

A woman touches the photo at the grave of her relative, killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 50th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou)

10 of 25 |

A relative of a soldier, killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, lights a candle at a grave in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 50th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou)

11 of 25 |

A girl leaves flowers on the graves of soldiers, killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion, in Cyprus at the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery in the divided capital of Nicosia Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou)

12 of 25 |

13 of 25 |

A woman leaves flowers on the graves of soldiers, killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus, at the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery in the divided capital of Nicosia Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou)

14 of 25 |

A relative of a soldier, killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, stands front of his grave in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 50th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou)

15 of 25 |

Cyprus President Nicos Christodoulides attending the memorial service for the soldiers, killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 50th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Philippos Christou)

16 of 25 |

Loucas Alexandrou, 94, sits by the grave of his son Christakis Alexandrou, Alexandrides, who where killed on 22 of July 1974 during the Turkish invasion, at the military cemetery in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, July 19, 2024. Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Cyprus’ ethnic division after Turkish invaded in the summer of 1974 in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at union with Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

17 of 25 |

Turkish Women and a kid walk in front of a poster of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

18 of 25 |

Turkish soldiers take part in a military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

19 of 25 |

Turkish military helicopters fly over the military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

20 of 25 |

Turkey’s acrobatic aircrafts fly over the military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

21 of 25 |

Turkey’s acrobatic aircrafts fly over the military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

22 of 25 |

A Turkish parachuter prepares for a landing as fly over the military parade with a Turkish flag and portrait of the Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, during a military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. The tinny howl of air raid sirens echoed across ethnically divided Cyprus at the crack of dawn on Saturday, marking 50 years from the day that changed the island nation’s history. It’s heard every year as the Greek Cypriot controlled south laments the date Turkish troops invaded in the wake of a coup by supporters of union with Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

23 of 25 |

Turkey’s acrobatic aircrafts fly over the military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

24 of 25 |

Turkish military helicopters fly over the military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

25 of 25 |

Turkey’s acrobatic aircrafts fly over the military parade, in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Turkey’s president on Saturday put a damper on hopes for a quick resumption of talks to heal a half-century of ethnic division on Cyprus, reaffirming his support for a two-state deal that Greek Cypriots dismiss as a non-starter.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ruled out a peace deal based on a United Nations-endorsed plan for federation, speaking ahead of a military parade to mark the 50th anniversary of a Turkish invasion that split the island along ethnic lines.

Although Erdogan has previously rejected the federation plan, Greece and the Greek Cypriots had hoped he would soften his position.

The anniversary is a festive occasion for Turkish Cypriots in the island’s northern third, who view the invasion as salvation from the Greek-speaking majority’s domination. The invasion followed a coup that aimed at a union with Greece, which was backed by the junta then ruling in Athens.

In the south, the howl of air raid sirens at daybreak began a solemn day marking what Greek Cypriots remember as a catastrophe that left thousands of people dead or missing and displaced a quarter of the Greek Cypriot population.

RELATED COVERAGE

Cyprus is committed to expanding defense ties with the US, says its president

Europe’s human rights watchdog urges Cyprus to let migrants stuck in UN buffer zone seek asylum

Biden, Cyprus president discuss administration push to win cease-fires in Gaza and Lebanon

Erdogan’s remarks may further complicate U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ effort to get both sides back to the negotiating table. His personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, has spent the past six months scoping both sides out.

“We will continue to fight with determination for the recognition of the TRNC (breakaway Turkish Cypriot state) and the implementation of a two-state solution,” Erdogan told throngs of Turkish Cypriots lining the parade route in scorching heat in the northern half of the divided capital, Nicosia.

“A federal solution in Cyprus is not possible, this is what we believe,” Erdogan said. “The Turkish Cypriot side, as equals with the Greek side, are willing to negotiate and are ready to sit down and negotiate. If you want a solution, you need to recognize the rights of Turkish Cypriots.”

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said Turkish Cypriots reject “domination” by the Greek Cypriot majority and seek “equal national status” for their breakaway state they unilaterally declared in 1983, which is only recognized by Turkey. He added that there’s now “no common ground” for a return to peace negotiations.

Referring to a recent resolution in the Ankara parliament calling for a two-state solution, Tatar said it “will help us and our cause incredibly.”

The island’s Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said he remains committed to resuming peace talks to reunify the island as a federation, despite obstacles or even “threats” from Erdogan.

But Christodoulides said he wouldn’t sign up to any agreement that either foresees a two-state arrangement or is unworkable and doesn’t guarantee rights afforded to any other European Union citizen.

Speaking at the same event, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said there’s no other option than to resume talks, an assessment he said was shared by the U.N. chief.

“One who isn’t in the right and has no arguments to make evades dialogue,” Mitsotakis said.

After numerous failed rounds of peace negotiations, many Cypriots on both sides — although jaded — still hold out a glimmer of hope for a peace deal.

Apart from the evening event at the Presidential Palace, the Greek Cypriot commemorations also included the unveiling of memorials to fallen heroes and church services.

Erdogan earlier presided over “golden jubilee” events, replete with a visit by Turkey’s first amphibious assault ship to carry the country’s potent Bayraktar drones, and an airshow.

The EU, which Cyprus joined in 2004, urged both sides to show “genuine commitment” to a peace deal in line with U.N. resolutions.

“Too much time has been lost,” an EU spokesperson said. “A forced division can never be a solution. Hope for a better future, a united Cyprus, still exists.”

____

AP writer Andrew Wilks in Istanbul contributed.