NICOSIA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus condemned on Wednesday the anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence by Turkish Cypriots and the establishment of a breakaway state recognized only by Turkey.
A statement issued by the Presidential office urged Turkish Cypriots and Turkey to return to negotiations to find a political settlement instead of celebrating an event that has been denounced by the United Nations.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, in remarks to journalists, said the secessionist situation is not in line with what has been agreed to be the basis of a Cyprus solution reunifying the eastern Mediterranean island.
Cyprus was partitioned when Turkey occupied part of its territory in 1974, in reaction to a coup by the military rulers of Greece at the time.
Turkey and Turkish Cypriot nationalist politicians declared a breakaway state on Nov. 15, 1983.
Repeated round of negotiations to reunify the island and reintegrate Turkish Cypriots ended in failure with the latest one in July.
Anastasiades said he expects a new round of negotiations to start once presidential elections early next year are over.
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci suggested in a statement on the anniversary that what is needed to move forward is what he called a "strategic framework agreement" before any new negotiations.
His suggestion was turned down by the Cypriot government spokesman, who said that the framework agreement for a solution is there for many years, adding that what is called for is a real political will to reach an agreement.
Turkish Cypriots organized on Wednesday a military parade to mark the anniversary of their unilateral independence.
Greek Cypriot school children held protest rallies just next to the dividing line in the capital Nicosia denouncing the anniversary.
