Erdogan: Turkey paid heavy price for Northern Cyprus

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a conversation with President-Elect of the Northern Cyprus Mustafa Akinci that Turkey paid a heavy price for the Cypriot republic. He added that Turkey was paying the Northern Cyprus about $1 billion annually, RIA Novosti reports.Akinci won the presidential elections yesterday, gaining 60.38% of votes, according to preliminary data. He had earlier advocated unification of the country and change of relations between Turkey and the Northern Cyprus.The Cyprus had split into two sectors in 1974, after Turkey’s invasion that prevented its mergence with Greece. 37% of the territory was occupied, the Turkish Republic of the Northern Cyprus was proclaimed on the occupied lands in 1983. Ankara has been the only one to recognize it as an independent state.

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a conversation with President-Elect of the Northern Cyprus Mustafa Akinci that Turkey paid a heavy price for the Cypriot republic. He added that Turkey was paying the Northern Cyprus about $1 billion annually, RIA Novosti reports.

Akinci won the presidential elections yesterday, gaining 60.38% of votes, according to preliminary data. He had earlier advocated unification of the country and change of relations between Turkey and the Northern Cyprus.

The Cyprus had split into two sectors in 1974, after Turkey’s invasion that prevented its mergence with Greece. 37% of the territory was occupied, the Turkish Republic of the Northern Cyprus was proclaimed on the occupied lands in 1983. Ankara has been the only one to recognize it as an independent state.