Leader of Turkish Cypriot Ersin Tatar, on Saturday (August 19), called the road project which has triggered a rare tension with the United Nations peacekeepers in the region, “essential”. Meanwhile, Turkey’s ruling party spokesman called the UN peacekeepers’ response “unacceptable” which blocked the construction in the buffer zone dividing Cyprus.

<h2>Turkey and Turkish Cypriots criticise UN</h2>

The criticism by Turkey comes a day after a scuffle broke out between UN peacekeepers and Turkish Cypriot security personnel when the peacekeepers tried to block construction of a controversial road in Pyla, an ethnically mixed village. The area, the UN says, is a part of the buffer zone and under its jurisdiction.&nbsp;

The area in question is between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus in the south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot statelet in the north. On Saturday, Turkish Cypriot officials accused the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) of overstepping its boundaries.

“It is unfortunate that an attempt was made by UNFICYP to obstruct the development of the road being carried out by a civilian contractor, within the sovereign territory of the TRNC,” said Tatar, in a statement to Reuters, referring to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara. 
 
Similarly, Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkey’s ruling AKP party defended the road project and slammed the UN’s move. “The attitude of the UN peacekeeping force serving in Cyprus...was unacceptable and extremely wrong,” said the Celik, on X (formerly Twitter).&nbsp;

He also said that the UN peacekeepers’ attitude “aimed at pleasing the Greek Cypriot side has damaged the reputation” of the UN mission in Cyprus. Notably, Pyla is the only village where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live side by side.

Authorities in TRNC have also defended the project and said it had a “humanitarian objective” and aimed at providing ease of access to TRNC territory for our citizens” living in the village.&nbsp;

Tatar, also the president of the TRNC, told Reuters the road was essential for purely humanitarian grounds to address economic and transportation issues for Turkish Cypriots living in that village.&nbsp;

<h2>UN responds to accusations</h2>

The UN mission on the east Mediterranean island, addressing the incident, said that their peacekeepers were assaulted as they tried to block “unauthorised construction work” near Pyla. The scuffle has since drawn condemnation from the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union.&nbsp;

The UN has also said that just under half of the 11.5 kilometres falls within the Turkish Cypriot-controlled territory. A spokesperson for UNFICYP told Reuters, that there was no construction underway on Saturday, and peacekeepers remained in the area, which was “firmly” within the buffer zone.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Leader of Turkish Cypriot Ersin Tatar, on Saturday (August 19), called the road project which has triggered a rare tension with the United Nations peacekeepers in the region, “essential”.

Leader of Turkish Cypriot Ersin Tatar, on Saturday (August 19), called the road project which has triggered a rare tension with the United Nations peacekeepers in the region, “essential”. Meanwhile, Turkey’s ruling party spokesman called the UN peacekeepers’ response “unacceptable” which blocked the construction in the buffer zone dividing Cyprus. Turkey and Turkish Cypriots criticise UN The criticism by Turkey comes a day after a scuffle broke out between UN peacekeepers and Turkish Cypriot security personnel when the peacekeepers tried to block construction of a controversial road in Pyla, an ethnically mixed village. The area, the UN says, is a part of the buffer zone and under its jurisdiction. The area in question is between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus in the south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot statelet in the north. On Saturday, Turkish Cypriot officials accused the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) of overstepping its boundaries. “It is unfortunate that an attempt was made by UNFICYP to obstruct the development of the road being carried out by a civilian contractor, within the sovereign territory of the TRNC,” said Tatar, in a statement to Reuters, referring to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara. Similarly, Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkey’s ruling AKP party defended the road project and slammed the UN’s move. “The attitude of the UN peacekeeping force serving in Cyprus...was unacceptable and extremely wrong,” said the Celik, on X (formerly Twitter). He also said that the UN peacekeepers’ attitude “aimed at pleasing the Greek Cypriot side has damaged the reputation” of the UN mission in Cyprus. Notably, Pyla is the only village where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live side by side. Authorities in TRNC have also defended the project and said it had a “humanitarian objective” and aimed at providing ease of access to TRNC territory for our citizens” living in the village. Tatar, also the president of the TRNC, told Reuters the road was essential for purely humanitarian grounds to address economic and transportation issues for Turkish Cypriots living in that village. UN responds to accusations The UN mission on the east Mediterranean island, addressing the incident, said that their peacekeepers were assaulted as they tried to block “unauthorised construction work” near Pyla. The scuffle has since drawn condemnation from the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union. The UN has also said that just under half of the 11.5 kilometres falls within the Turkish Cypriot-controlled territory. A spokesperson for UNFICYP told Reuters, that there was no construction underway on Saturday, and peacekeepers remained in the area, which was “firmly” within the buffer zone. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkey slams UN approach to Cyprus row; Turkish Cypriot calls disputed road project ‘essential’

Ankara-backed, right-wing nationalist Ersin Tatar&nbsp;scored a surprise victory in a run-off presidential election Sunday in breakaway northern Cyprus.

Tatar won 51.73 per cent, ahead of incumbent Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who had been tipped to win a second term. He notably has been&nbsp;advocating&nbsp;a two-state solution on the divided island.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the surprise victory of his favoured candidate.

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Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti Cumhurbaşkanı seçilen Sayın Ersin Tatar'ı şahsım ve Türk Milleti adına tebrik ediyorum. 
 
Türkiye, Kıbrıs Türk halkının hak ve hukukunun korunması için gereken her türlü çabayı göstermeyi sürdürecektir.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RTErdogan/status/1317876322019008513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Tatar was already premier of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is recognised only by Turkey, in an uneasy partnership with Akinci, who had backed the island's reunification in UN-brokered negotiations with the Greek Cypriots.

It was a role obtained after the collapse of a coalition government in May 2019 and one where he had the support of Turkey, the only country who recognises the TRNC.

Tatar courted controversy just days before the first round of the presidential election on October 11 when he visited Ankara and made an appearance alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

His first entry into politics came in 2003 when he joined the National Unity Party (UBP), which he has led since 2018. But he won political office in April 2009 when he was elected MP for Nicosia for the UBP, and served as finance minister between 2009 and 2013.

Amid tensions in the eastern Mediterranean which are exacerbated by the island's division, Tatar has defended Turkey's gas exploration as an attempt to ensure Turkey and Turkish Cypriots' rights are protected.

After the collapse of peace talks in Switzerland in July 2017, Tatar said negotiations "cannot continue from where they were left off".

(with inputs from AFP)

Ankara-backed, right-wing nationalist Ersin Tatar scored a surprise victory in a run-off presidential election Sunday in breakaway northern Cyprus. Tatar won 51.

Ankara-backed, right-wing nationalist Ersin Tatar scored a surprise victory in a run-off presidential election Sunday in breakaway northern Cyprus. Tatar won 51.73 per cent, ahead of incumbent Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who had been tipped to win a second term. He notably has been advocating a two-state solution on the divided island. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the surprise victory of his favoured candidate. Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti Cumhurbaşkanı seçilen Sayın Ersin Tatar'ı şahsım ve Türk Milleti adına tebrik ediyorum. Türkiye, Kıbrıs Türk halkının hak ve hukukunun korunması için gereken her türlü çabayı göstermeyi sürdürecektir. — Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) October 18, 2020 × Tatar was already premier of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is recognised only by Turkey, in an uneasy partnership with Akinci, who had backed the island's reunification in UN-brokered negotiations with the Greek Cypriots. It was a role obtained after the collapse of a coalition government in May 2019 and one where he had the support of Turkey, the only country who recognises the TRNC. Tatar courted controversy just days before the first round of the presidential election on October 11 when he visited Ankara and made an appearance alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His first entry into politics came in 2003 when he joined the National Unity Party (UBP), which he has led since 2018. But he won political office in April 2009 when he was elected MP for Nicosia for the UBP, and served as finance minister between 2009 and 2013. Amid tensions in the eastern Mediterranean which are exacerbated by the island's division, Tatar has defended Turkey's gas exploration as an attempt to ensure Turkey and Turkish Cypriots' rights are protected. After the collapse of peace talks in Switzerland in July 2017, Tatar said negotiations "cannot continue from where they were left off". (with inputs from AFP)

Ankara-backed nationalist Ersin Tatar ousts president in Turkish Cypriot poll

Northern Cyprus said on Tuesday it will reopen the coastal section of the long-fenced-off disputed town of Varosha, a Turkish Cypriot leader announced Tuesday ahead of elections at the weekend.

North Cyprus to reopen disputed 'ghost town' with Turkish backing