Roundup: Turkish president says opportunity to solve Cyprus problem must not be lost

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that there is currently an opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem which must not be squandered.

"It seems that both sides are determined to continue on the road to a solution of the Cyprus problem ... This opportunity must not be lost," Erdogan said during a short visit to the occupied part of Cyprus.

Erdogan arrived in the northern part of the eastern Mediterranean island to attend a military parade and celebrations marking the anniversary of a 1974 military action in which Turkey occupied part of the island in response to a short lived coup by the Greek military junta.

He also had a 90-minute meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, reviewing progress in the recently restarted negotiations aimed at reunifying Cyprus.

On the other side of the divide, Greek Cypriots who run the internationally recognized government of Cyprus held memorial services to mourn the people, both fighting men and civilians, who were killed in Turkey's action.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades deplored Erdogan's visit to the occupied part of the island, which he described as "illegal". He said it was a sad event for people to celebrate when others mourned their dead.

But he said it was a consolation that the Turkish Cypriot leader, with whom he is engaged in reunification negotiations, said for the first time what Turkey described as a peace operation was in fact a war in which Greek Cypriot suffered the most.

Government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides also said that nobody seriously expects a settlement of the Cyprus issue out of the negotiations unless Turkey moves decisively in the direction of a solution.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Akinci, Erdogan acknowledged that the self-proclaimed so-called state in the occupied part of Cyprus is actually run by Turkey.

He said Turkey will do whatever is up to it to help in a Cyprus solution.

"Nobody should have any doubts about it. As administrator of northern Cyprus, the Turkish Republic will continue this effort hand in hand with its daughter state," said Erdogan.

Akinci wished there will be no more July 20 anniversaries and future generations in Cyprus will share not the pain, the blood and tears of their ancestors but peace and prosperity. Endit