NICOSIA, Aug. 23 (Reuters) – The Cypriot government said on Monday it would revoke the passports of Turkish Cypriot officials in the separatist state in the northern part of the island.
Several Turkish Cypriot officials, including acting leader Ersin Tatar, are known to hold or hold passports from the Republic of Cyprus, although they administer the Turkish Cypriot state.
The eastern Mediterranean island split into a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup. Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey, while the Republic of Cyprus, ruled by Greek Cypriots, is internationally recognized.
The current Cypriot administration, which caused billions to sell passports to thousands of people ranging from Russian oligarchs and a fugitive from Malaysia to well-connected Cambodians, read more, saying the actions of the Turkish Cypriots targeted undermine the integrity of Cyprus.
Attempts at reunification have repeatedly failed, and relations are at a new low in a dispute over marine energy reserves, a Turkish Cypriot demands that peace talks be taken to a new level and that the Turks open up to a new level. part of a closed city abandoned by its residents in the 1974 war.
Cyprus would revoke, stop renewing or refuse to issue passports to people who participated in the “pseudo-state cabinet” or participated in attempts to reopen Varosha, government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said.
“By their actions and deeds they undermine the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Cyprus, in violation of the Constitution,” Pelekanos said.
Turkish Cypriot media reported that the movement concerned 14 people, including the Tatar.
Turkish Cypriot authorities announced in July a partial reopening of the Varosha beach suburb for possible resettlement, but it led to strong disapproval from Greek Cypriots who consider it a land grab. The area has been a Turkish military zone with no settlement allowed for decades. Read more
Tens of thousands of Turkish Cypriots hold ID cards and passports from the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the birthright based on the common state established with Greek Cypriots in 1960.
Communist AKEL, the main Greek Cypriot opposition party, said the passport decision was for domestic consumption only and that authorities should focus on initiatives to “stop Turkey’s partisan designs.”
Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, a former Cypriot foreign minister and longtime diplomat, tweeted: “(A) Myopic and impulsive politics! They remove the only piece of evidence that” officials “of the regime subordinate to Turkey recognize of Cyprus “.
Local media have reported that the Tatar, a staunch supporter of Turkish-Cypriot independence, obtained the Cypriot passport in 2000. Tatar is the son of a prominent technocrat who acted as an adviser in the talks they led. in the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 after independence. of Great Britain.
Reports by Michele Kambas; Edited by Angus MacSwan and Paul Simao
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