Cyprus slams Turkey’s water link with breakaway north

A smaller group of Greek Cypriots in the south also held a protest at the Ledra crossing point in Nicosia, calling Erdogan’s visit to the island “illegal” since the breakaway regime in the north is not recognized by the world except from Turkey.

The island was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence and still maintains 35,000 troops in the north.

With Turkey geared toward an election on November 1, both ceremonies had the feel of an election campaign.

The President spoke today by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about deepening cooperation in the fight against ISIL.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a cheering, flag-waving crowd at Anamur that Turkey and north Cyprus “have been interlocked in such a way that they will never be separated”.

But Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who spoke at the event, described the project as “water for peace”, adding the Turkish Cypriot side is prepared to share the water with the Greek Cypriot side. Cyprus has one proven deposit off its southern coast that’s estimated to contain more than 4 trillion cubic feet of gas.

The House President also noted that the Turkish action amid an especially crucial phase in the negotiating process “are not only disheartening but underline the country’s absolute disregard of the worldwide law and its long-standing intransigence on the Cyprus problem”.

“This is good for Cyprus”.

“We on the Turkish side are honest about finding a solution to the Cyprus problem that has been on the agenda of the global community and the United Nations for over half a century”, Erdogan said during a visit to the north of the island.

Farhan Kul, 76, said: “If they give water to south Cyprus, this will help bring peace”.