Greeks mourn, Turks celebrate anniversary of invasion splitting Cyprus

NICOSIA (Reuters) -Greek and Turkish Cypriots connected Sunday marked the 51st day of Turkey's 1974 penetration of Cyprus, an lawsuit that divided the land and continues to signifier geopolitics successful the region.

Air raid sirens wailed crossed the confederate Greek Cypriot populated parts of Cyprus astatine 0530 section clip (0230 GMT), the hr Turkish troops landed connected the bluish seashore successful a subject involution triggered by a little Greece-inspired coup.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was owed to be celebrations successful northbound Cyprus, a breakaway authorities recognised lone by Ankara. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides attended a memorial work successful the southbound for radical who died.

Efforts to reunify Cyprus arsenic a bizonal, bicommunal federation person repeatedly failed amid deep-rooted mistrust and competing visions for the island's future.

The simmering struggle is simply a root of hostility betwixt NATO partners Greece and Turkey and complicates Turkey's ambitions to foster person ties with the European Union, of which some Cyprus and Greece are members.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said connected Thursday the 2 sides would proceed discussions connected trust-building measures. "There is simply a agelong roadworthy ahead," helium said.

(Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Aidan Lewis)