Üstel: “Raising Greek Cypriot youth with Turkish hostility is a threat to peace on island”

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel stated that Greek Cypriot youth are being raised with hostility towards Turks in schools and this poses a great threat to peace on the island.

On the occasion of  the 51st Anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, Prime Minister Üstel commented on recent actions targeting the people and the state at the borders and crossing points.

In a statement issued by the Prime Ministry’s Press and Public Relations Office, Üstel remarked that the 51st Anniversary of 20th July Peace and Freedom Day was commemorated and stated, “We want to move forward without getting stuck in the past with a constructive and realistic perspective towards the future.”

Emphasizing that they envision a solution based on a two-state approach, alongside the Republic of Türkiye, as a viable and sustainable resolution, Üstel also noted that, even if an agreement is not reached, their objective is to maintain good neighborly relations with Greek Cypriots, based on high-level cooperation. Prime Minister Üstel underlined, “The first and foremost step must be to abandon hostility and ensure that hatred is not passed on to the new generation.”

Prime Minister Üstel stated that they have been closely following, with concern and scrutiny, the actions targeting the people and the state at the borders and crossing points on the 51st anniversary of the 20th July Cyprus Peace Operation. He pointed out that the demonstrators were young Greek Cypriots, adding, “These young people have never seen war. Raising the new generation with hatred towards Turkish people poses a great threat to peace on the island. Greek Cypriot youth are being poisoned in schools, far from humanitarian values.”