Washington criticized the transfer of the Marash area to the control of the Turkish Cypriots, and the renewed debate between Turkey and the European Union over the situation in Cyprus, following the visit and statements of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from the Turkish Republic of Cyprus, which is recognized by Ankara.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that his country condemns the announcement by the Turkish Cypriot leader and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to transfer parts of the Cypriot Varosha (Maraş) to the control of the Turkish Cypriots as it contradicts Security Council resolutions.

Blinken said that his country views the actions of the Turkish Cypriots as provocative and unacceptable and incompatible with their previous commitments, expressing Washington's support for a comprehensive settlement led by the Cypriots to reunify the island.

Erdogan: Maraş will regain its old days

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that "the Maras region of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus will rise again within the framework of international law."

This came in a speech he delivered yesterday, Tuesday, during his participation in the inauguration of a number of development and vital projects in Lefkosa, the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Erdogan said that the Cypriot region of Maraş will restore its old days by opening it in a way that does not harm anyone's rights and within the framework of international law.

The Turkish president indicated that his country will start projects that will revive the Cypriot Marash region.

President Erdoğan: “The Maras region will be a symbol of the peaceful and prosperous future of the island of Cyprus.” https://t.co/okD8hBbyCD pic.twitter.com/Ns3SXCJGXd

— Turkish Presidency (@tcbestepe_ar) July 20, 2021

He added that the Turkish Republic of Cyprus has begun to rise on its feet, and that Ankara will work to expand its digitalization stage.

Erdogan considered, "The key to resolving the Cyprus crisis lies in the recognition of the equality of the Turkish Cypriots in sovereignty," saying that rejecting "the two-state solution means ignoring the rights of the Turkish Cypriots to sovereignty, equality, independence and rights."

The Marash tourist area in the city of Gazi Maghousa is located on the line separating the two parts of Cyprus, and was closed according to agreements concluded with the Greek side after what Turkey described as the military "peace process" that Turkey implemented on the island in 1974.

On October 8, 2020, the Turkish Cypriots opened part of the closed closed Marash area in the city of Gazi Maghousa (east of the country) after a 46-year closure, according to the Anatolia Agency.

Mutual criticism between Ankara and the Europeans

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, expressed his concern over Erdogan's statements during his visit to the northern part of Cyprus, and considered them "unacceptable."

"The European Union reiterates the need to avoid unilateral steps contrary to international law and new provocations that could increase tensions on the island and threaten the resumption of negotiations with a view to reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question," Borrell said in a statement.

On the other hand, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Borrell's statements about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" are a new example of the European Union's detachment from reality.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tango Bilgic indicated that Borrell's statements, which were issued claiming solidarity between the EU countries, are in no way for Ankara.

He pointed out that these statements are no more than an echo of what Greece and Greek Cyprus say, which are badly using the veto within the union to defend their thesis.

Bilgic expressed Turkey's full support for the decisions of Turkish Cypriots regarding the Marash region, stressing that these decisions take into account the rights of property owners in that region.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is scheduled to arrive in Cyprus on Wednesday, the day after Erdogan's visit.

For its part, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated, in a phone call on Tuesday, with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, his adherence to "the full implementation of the resolutions issued by the UN Security Council."

It is noteworthy that Turkey launched on July 20, 1974 what it called the "peace process" on the island of Cyprus after the island witnessed a military coup led by Nicos Sampson against Cypriot President Makarios III on July 15 of the same year, and the coup took place with the support of the ruling military council in Greece, while Greek armed groups targeted the island's Turks.

The Turkish army began a second military operation on August 14, 1974, and the two operations succeeded in achieving their goals, as a prisoner exchange agreement was concluded between the two sides on September 16 of the same year.

On February 13, 1975, the "Federal Turkish Cypriot State" was established in the northern part of the island, and Rauf Denktash was elected President of the Republic, which became known as the "Turkish Republic of Cyprus".