US State Department: Erdogan's visit to Northern Cyprus 'a step in the wrong direction'

The US State Department described Erdogan's visit to North Cyprus as the wrong step, and called for a reconsideration of the opening of the Varosha resort.

US State Department: Erdogan's visit to Northern Cyprus 'a step in the wrong direction'
21 November, 2020   09:59
NEWS DESK

In a statement published by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the US State Department called on Turkey to reconsider its decision to reopen the Varosha beach resort, which was deserted by the Cypriots fleeing the Turkish invasion in 1974.

The US State Department described the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Northern Cyprus on Sunday as a "step in the wrong direction."

The United States supports efforts to calm tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, and continues to demand dialogue and respect for international law, according to the statement.

The statement emphasized that the United States will continue to support a comprehensive settlement to reunify the island on the basis of a federation.

Ankara supported the partial reopening of Varosha, before elections last month in the occupied north, in a move criticized by the United Nations, Athens and Nicosia.

T/S

ANHA