"Ecevit marks Turkish invasion

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit marked the 25th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus yesterday by ruling out a return to a uritary state on the divided island.

Mr Ecevit, who ordered the invasion in 1974, boasted that Turkish northern Cyprus had survived despite the pressures of a world boycott.

"Our desire is for the Greek Cypriot community to put aside delusions of returning to the past and focus on living side by side as neighbours, as two separate independent states" he said.

The European Union, the United States and the United Nations have called for moves to end the division of Cyprus.

Washington is expected to tackle the Cyprus issue, which is a major source of tension between NATO members Turkey and Greece, when Mr Ecevit visits Washington in September.

The self-styled 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', which was set up on that territory 16 years ago, is recognised only by Turkey and relies on subsidies from Ankara and the 30,000 troops stationed there.

The Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia is the only administration recognised internationally.

Dozens of Greek Cypriots and their supporters lobbied Parliament in Britain yesterday to protest at 25 years of Turkish occupation.

The Lobby for Cyprus called for removal of all Turkish troops, repatriation of all colonists and the return of all refugees.

Lobbyists said that, "at the dawn of the 21st century, Turkey is enforcing apartheid in European in its attempt to transform Cyprus into a province of Turkey.

"If the Kosovo Albanian refugees are assured an almost immediate return to their homes, why are the 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees still denied a safe and peaceful return to their homes and properties after 25 years?""