Turkish Cyprus rejects EU appointment of special envoy
Turkish Cyprus on July 13 condemned the European Commission’s appointment of a special representative for the ethnically-divided island, denouncing the move as unilateral, unlawful and politically biased.
The European Commission on July 13 formally appointed Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto as its new special representative for Cyprus, confirming that he will support U.N.-led efforts to reunify the island.
In a statement, the commission said Fitto, in his new capacity, “will contribute to the settlement process under the auspices of the United Nations,” while working closely with U.N. Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar.
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry, however, rejected the appointment, arguing that it was made unilaterally at the behest of the Greek Cypriot administration and without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side.
