NIKOSIA – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, marking the 50th anniversary of Turkish invasions that seized the still occupied northern third of Cyprus, said that, “Hellenism will not stop fighting until Cyprus is reunited.”

With Greece and Turkey in a rapprochement and discussing issues dividing them – Cyprus is off the table – he said he hopes that the easing of tensions “helps the Cyprus issue move forward,” and gain traction.

He added that, “The fact that we talk (with Turkey) doesn’t mean we agree or, even more so, that we are retreating (from our positions). Greece, as a strong state in every respect, talks with everyone.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while backing away from belligerence in favor of diplomacy, said – as has Turkish-Cypriot hardline leader Ersin Tatar – that they don’t want reunification, but recognition of the self-declared republic there.

“We will continue to fight with determination for the recognition of the (breakaway Turkish-Cypriot state) TRNC and the implementation of a two-state solution,” he said in the divided capital Nicosia, using the name for the occupied side only Turkey accepts.

“A federal solution in Cyprus is not possible, this is what we believe … the Turkish- Cypriot side, as equals with the Greek side, are willing to negotiate and are ready to sit down and negotiate. If you want a solution, you need to recognize the rights of Turkish Cypriots,” he said of his demand.

Mitsotakis, who was in the capital too, said that, “As I told President Erdogan during our recent meeting in Washington, it is unthinkable that Cyprus, an EU member state, remains divided fifty years after the tragedy of 1974.”

“Our wish and hope is that the two communities will take advantage of the new opportunity presented and sit at the table to find a solution within the framework of UN resolutions, under the non-negotiable condition that any potential agreement will recognize one sovereignty, one citizenship and one international personality. In this effort, our Cypriot brothers have the support and backing of Greece,” added Mitsotakis.

Mitsotakis was in the capital too and pointed to the accomplishments of the Greek-Cypriot government that’s a member of the European Union that Turkey bas fruitlessly been trying to join since 2005.

He noted the economy there is roaring back from the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by tourism that’s denied to the occupied side as international flights aren’t allowed to go directly there, and must first have to stop in Turkey for connections.

He said the only way out of the dilemma is negotiating reunification despite that path blocked by Erdogan and Tatar, and pointed to a new United Nations Special Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar from Colombia being sent to the island.

Mitsotakis said that was discussed when he met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who was at the last round of talks in July, 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana that collapsed and haven’t resumed.

That was over Turkey and then Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci saying a 40,000-strong Turkish army on the occupied side would never leave and their demands for the right of further military intervention.

Mitsotakis said that, “Only when someone is in the wrong, and is bereft of arguments, do they avoid dialogue. When they also resort to provocations, they make it worse,” with Turkey and Turkish-Cypriots celebrating the anniversary.

He reminded his audience of officials of the recently support by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament speaker Roberta Metsola for a united Cyprus.

“Without shedding our emotions, we in Athens and Nicosia must view the situation with pragmatism. Every solution demands brave decision, but we must not divide those who fight into better and lesser patriots,” Mitsotakis said.

Speaking ahead of a military parade to mark the invasion that split the island along ethnic lines, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ruled out a peace deal based on a UN-endorsed plan for a bi-zonal federation.

Tatar reiterated that Turkish Cypriots reject “domination” by the Greek-Cypriot majority and seek “equal national status” for their breakaway state they unilaterally declared in 1983, which is only recognized by Turkey.

He added that there’s now “no common ground” for a return to peace negotiations.

Referring to a recent resolution in the Ankara Parliament calling for a two-state solution, Tatar said it “will help us and our cause incredibly.”

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides urged Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to re-engage in reunification talks if Turkey genuinely wants regional security and stability and to nudge closer to the EU, prospects worsening under Erdogan.

After numerous failed rounds of peace negotiations, many Cypriots on both sides – although jaded – still hold out a glimmer of hope for a peace deal despite decades of failures and diplomats laying by the wayside.

(Material from the Associated Press was used in this report)