A panel discussion at the 30th annual Economist conference in Lagonisi turned into a shouting match Tuesday when Greek D...

A panel discussion at the 30th annual Economist conference in Lagonisi turned into a shouting match Tuesday when Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Hatzivassiliou and former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu clashed repeatedly over Cyprus, with interruptions, raised voices, and direct confrontations in front of the audience. The argument started during a session on EU enlargement. Davutoglu claimed the European Union made a mistake by admitting Cyprus as a full member while the political problem remained unresolved, and placed the blame for the current diplomatic stalemate squarely on the Greek Cypriot side for rejecting the Annan Plan in 2004. He also demanded a "positive agenda" from Europe toward Ankara. Hatzivassiliou pushed back immediately and without hesitation. He reminded Davutoglu that Turkey has maintained an illegal occupation army on Cypriot soil for decades, controlling 37% of the island by force, and that Cyprus's EU membership was a fully legitimate and sovereign decision. The exchange hit its peak when Davutoglu returned to the floor and insisted that the presence of Turkish troops on the island was "legal and just." Hatzivassiliou reportedly repeated three or four times in a sharp, raised voice: "Cyprus was subjected to an illegal invasion." The room fell silent after the outburst. The Greek side made no effort to soften the language or find common ground, signaling clearly that Athens will not accept any attempt to reframe the occupation as anything other than what it is. The Economist conference, held annually in Greece, has hosted senior political figures from across Europe and the broader region. This year's session on EU enlargement drew particular attention given Turkey's stalled accession process and the ongoing dispute over Cyprus's divided status. #Cyprus #Greece #Davutoglu