Greece Will Never Accept the Consequences of Turkish invasion - Greek FM

Greece demands Turkey withdraw its troops from Cyprus, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said on Wednesday.

ATHENS (Sputnik) – The foreign minister added that Greece is seeking a comprehensive solution to the Cyprian problem based on UN resolutions.

"Greece does not accept and will never accept the consequences of the Turkish invasion. It gave a clear signal to all parties that removing an anachronistic system of guarantees and withdrawal of all Turkish occupation troops that, as the latest events in Turkey confirmed once again, disrupt the constitutional order and democracy instead of ensuring them, are an inherent part of solving the Cyprian problem," he said in a statement sent to RIA Novosti.

Kotzias noted that more than 200,000 Cypriots were expelled from their homes during the Turkish invasion of 1974, many of whom are still missing. He pointed out that the Turkish colonization as well as plunder of the island's Christian legacy is still continuing in the "occupied" territories.

Kotzias made his statement on the 42th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. In 1974, Turkey invaded the island of Cyprus after which the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was established in 1983. Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey, controls some 37 percent of the island's territory. At present, the United Nations is brokering peace talks for the reunification of the two parts of Cyprus.