Turkish Cypriots Clash with UN Soldiers in Pyla Village: Turkey Reacts Strongly to UN Statement

Turkey rages against the UN Security Council after a statement blaming the Turkish-backed government of northern Cyprus for an attack on UN forces.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara believes that the council’s statement is “completely detached from the realities on the ground”, and that instead of making a positive contribution, it only makes the process more difficult.

In the statement, the UN Security Council accuses Turkish Cypriot forces of having attacked UN forces patrolling the buffer zone on the divided island. The peacekeeping forces tried to prevent the construction of a road in the buffer zone when clashes broke out with Turkish Cypriot forces. Four UN soldiers were injured and their vehicles destroyed in the incident last Friday.

Turkey claims it was the UN forces that provoked the unrest.

The clash occurred at Pyla, an ethnically mixed village located in the area between the internationally recognized part of Cyprus and the breakaway region in the north, which is recognized only by Turkey.

The governing body of the northern part of Cyprus was established when Turkey invaded the area in 1974. The island has since been divided, and the northern part is still considered occupied by Turkey under international law.