Turkey suggested not to expect a solution to the Cyprus problem for another 60 years

Fahrettin Altun, head of the Communications Department of the Turkish Presidential Administration, said on December 15 that Cyprus should recognize the existence of two separate peoples and two separate states.

"It is time to recognize the reality on the ground: the existence of two separate peoples and two separate states on the island of Cyprus. Neither the Turkish Cypriots nor Turkey are willing to waste another 60 years," the Turkish Anadolu Agency quoted the speaker as saying.

Altun emphasized that Greece needs to respect the Turkish minority and give it the same rights enjoyed by the Greek minority in Turkey.

Earlier, on November 25, Greek media reported on Cyprus' plans to join NATO. Also at the summit of the European political community in Budapest, the head of state presented to the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance Mark Rutte a plan for the gradual accession of the state to NATO.

Prior to that, on June 16, Reuters quoted a NATO diplomat as saying that Turkey had blocked the decision on the geographical formulation, including with regard to Cyprus. However, he added that there was still a possibility of finding a solution before the alliance summit.

In 1974, supporters of Cyprus joining Greece organized a coup d'état. Turkey introduced the military to the island to protect the local Turkish-speaking population. As a result of fierce fighting, about 37% of Cyprus' territory was under Ankara's control. In 1983, the TRNC was formed on it, not recognized by any state in the world except Turkey. The southern part of the island remained under the control of the Republic of Cyprus, which is populated predominantly by Greek Cypriots.