Turkish Cypriot premier condemns burning of Turkish, TRNC flags in Southern Cyprus

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Unal Ustel condemned the burning of Turkish and TRNC flags by Greek Cypriot youths during protests in the Greek Cypriot Administration, describing the acts as an attack on the honor of the Turkish nation.

In a written statement released on Saturday, Ustel said the chants of hatred, hostility and anger directed at the Turkish Cypriot people and their motherland, Türkiye, during protests marking the anniversary of the TRNC's founding reflected a mentality that the Greek Cypriot Administration had fostered for years.

The protests were attended by teachers and members of parliament, he said, adding that encouraging young people to chant hateful slogans and turning schools into centers for spreading hostility were part of a deliberate policy of enmity for which the Greek Cypriot Administration bore responsibility.

Condemning the attacks on the Turkish and TRNC flags, Ustel said: "Our stance is clear and resolute in the face of any attack on the values, flag and existence of the Turkish Cypriot people and the Turkish nation. We will always and under all circumstances protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people and their motherland, Türkiye, the sacred symbols of our freedom and the honor of our nation. Let this be clearly understood."

- 'This is unacceptable and unforgivable'

Reiterating his condemnation, Ustel said the burning of the flags during demonstrations in Southern Cyprus constituted an attack on the honor of the Turkish nation.

"This is an act of insolence! It is an open attack on the national symbols, values and honor of the Turkish nation! This is unacceptable and unforgivable," he said.

Ustel also called on the Greek Cypriot Administration to take immediate action against those responsible for the incidents.

"Get your act together. While delivering speeches about peace and reconciliation, encouraging anti-Turkish sentiment in schools, organizing demonstrations in which our flags are burned and raising young people with hatred is the clearest manifestation of hypocrisy.

"The Greek Cypriot leadership must immediately put an end to this policy and take the necessary action against those responsible for the attacks on our flags," he said.

- Protests in Southern Cyprus

Groups, including the far-right National Popular Front (ELAM), staged demonstrations in several cities in Southern Cyprus to mark the TRNC's 43rd anniversary, displaying Greek and Byzantine flags and burning Turkish and TRNC flags.

Greek Cypriot protesters chanted "Death to Turks, Cyprus is Greek" and attempted to march toward the TRNC border, but were prevented from doing so by Greek Cypriot police.

In a first, the Greek Cypriot Administration's Education Ministry issued a circular to schools instructing them not to mark students absent from classes if they took part in the demonstrations.