Whatever actions Turkey takes, under no circumstances the status of the regime in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus can be upgraded because it is the result of an illegal action, stated on Tuesday from Cairo Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides.

Invited to comment on the presence of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci at a conference on energy in Constantinople, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the deliberations, the Spokesman said it was a conference organised by a private organisation in Turkey.

Turkey, he said, “always exploits such opportunities in an effort to upgrade the Turkish Cypriot leader”.

“Whatever actions Turkey takes, under no circumstances can the regime in the occupied areas be upgraded since it is the product of an illegal action”, the Spokesman told reporters.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-led talks have been underway since May 2015, aiming to reunify the island under a federal roof.