CYPRUS: Greek police probe diplomatic blunder on their official calendar

Greek police were left shame-faced after a map printed on its 2019 official calendar shows the Turkish-held areas of the island as ‘North Cyprus’ and FYROM is called Macedonia.

An investigation was launched into how the offending calendars – printed by a private company – managed to get through police scrutiny.

Turkish occupied northern Cyprus is not recognised by Greece – Turkey is the only country that does recognise it – while Athens is opposed to the name Macedonia being used by its neighbour.

An immediate recall of all the calendars from Greek police stations was ordered following the discovery and a probe will focus on whether the calendars were checked before going to print.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded after a Greek-inspired military coup.

In June, neighbours Greece and FYROM struck a deal that would see the former Yugoslav country be renamed as the Republic of North Macedonia, bringing a decades-old dispute with Athens closer to being resolved.