Erdogan unlikely to attend invasion celebrations in north

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will not be visiting the north of Cyprus on 20 July, the anniversary of the invasion, according to Kibris Postasi newspaper.

This has dampened speculation in the Greek Cypriot press that during the visit Erdogan would declare the occupied north’s annexation by Turkey.

Speculation raged in the past week after leading member of the Greek-US lobby, Eddie Zemenides told ERT web radio that “Mr. Erdogan will do something big in the occupied territories on 20 July.” The main scenario he had heard was of Erdogan proclaiming the annexation of the north.

The Turkish president will instead go to Tehran on a “surprise visit” on Tuesday 19 July for a day and is considered unlikely that he will travel to north Cyprus to take part in the north’s celebrations for the invasion anniversary.