Greece’s Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement on Saturday morning marking 42 years since the unilateral declaration of independence by the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, an entity recognized only by Turkey.

Athens stressed that it “will never accept the faits accomplis of the Turkish invasion and occupation” and called on the international community to stand firmly with international law and the United Nations Security Council.

In its announcement, the ministry urged all countries “to resist any form of revisionism and fully respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus in the face of this secessionist entity.”

The statement highlighted that the breakaway declaration was deemed “illegal, null and void” by UN Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984), both of which called on all states not to recognize the entity proclaimed in the island’s north.

Greece reaffirmed its alignment with the Republic of Cyprus in seeking a comprehensive, mutually acceptable settlement. The solution, the ministry noted, must be based on a “bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality and a single international personality, sovereignty and citizenship, which is the framework defined by relevant UN resolutions”.

The ministry also pointed to renewed diplomatic movement on the Cyprus issue, including the appointment of a personal envoy by the UN Secretary-General and recent informal multilateral meetings. These developments, it said, are “important steps” toward creating conditions that could allow negotiations to resume after years of stagnation.