THOUSANDS marched in Cyprus today to condemn Turkey’s occupation of the island and call for “the reunification of our country and our people.”

The demonstration was organised by the Progressive Party of Working People (Akel) and backed by 106 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot organisations.

In a common statement the organisations condemned failures to resolve the so-called Cyprus question, with talks having stalled without progress.

But they said that today’s action should be used as “a stepping stone to rebuild the momentum in our common struggle for the reunification of our country and people.” 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inflamed tensions during a visit to the island earlier this year, when he marked the 47th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and Cyprus’s subsequent division.

It left the island partitioned into two main parts: the Republic of Cyprus, located mainly in the south and west, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is not recognised internationally.

A UN buffer zone separates the two entities, with the north of Cyprus considered occupied territory and subject to an ongoing political dispute. 

During his visit Mr Erdogan outlined plans to build a new parliament and said he was going to reopen the abandoned resort of Varosha in the southern quarter of Famagusta, whose inhabitants fled a Turkish invasion in 1974.

But it was his comments demanding a two-state solution to the crisis that drew sharpest criticism, with Akel stating at the time that “the definitive partition of our country has never been more visible.”

Mr Erdogan has rejected talks mediated by the United Nations, insisting that third parties cannot intervene in the process, which has dealt a serious blow to hopes for reunification.

Protesters are now calling for “strengthening the co-operation of all forces of society on both sides of the divide to work together in order to safeguard peace for the reunification of the island within the framework of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation.”

Akel condemned increased Turkish aggression and the illegal occupation of Famagusta. 

It called on Ankara to abide by international law and UN resolutions on the status of Varosha and to re-engage with talks on reunification.

“We stress that the Turkish provocations and illegal activities serve solely the permanent division of the Cypriots and of their common homeland,” an Akel statement said. 

“We would like to reiterate our support towards … Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who continue to fight for bringing peace on their war-torn island, to curb any hegemonic interferences and reunite their country to provide a hopeful and prosperous future to the generations to come.”