Papadopoulos responds to Erdogan “step ahead” remark

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos responded on Thursday to statements by the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey was always one step ahead of Cyprus.

Speaking after a memorial at Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia for those who were killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, which began on July 20, 1974, Papadopoulos said «it will be proven how much validity and truth all these statements carry when, we hope, consultations begin for the commencement of negotiations.»

Erdogan had on Wednesday reiterated Turkish positions for a solution on the basis of political equality and said the Turkish side was always a step ahead.

President Papadopoulos said that the presence of Erdogan in the Turkish occupied areas, to mark the anniversary of the invasion, is an illegal and provocative action.