Erdogan: Turkish forces remain in Cyprus

istanbul/geneva - Turkish President Erdogan stressed Friday that Turkish troops remain on the island of Cyprus. The ruling casts a shadow over the current discussions between the two sides in the war-torn island. That must reunite Cyprus after more than forty years.

Turkey invaded the island in 1974 in during a political crisis. In the north Ankara established a Turkish Cypriot republic that is internationally recognized and is not considered to be occupied territory. The south is the Republic of Cyprus and a member of the European Union since 2004.

The United Nations maintain a peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, are also involved in the peace talks. In the night from Thursday to Friday, the Geneva talks ended without agreement, but as of January 23 will be further negotiated.

When calls are also self Turkey, Greece and involved the United Kingdom. The island was in fact from 1878 until independence in 1960, British. The tension between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriot minority was very violent in 1963.