Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades | Thierry Charlier/ AFP via Getty Cypriot president: Erdoğan’s flag comments ‘unacceptable’ The Turkish president questioned the use of the flag while the island remains divided.

Nicos Anastasiades, the president of Cyprus, said Wednesday that Turkey's president questioning the legitimacy of the Cypriot flag was “unacceptable," Greek media reported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday that Greek Cypriots use the flag — which depicts the entire island with two olive branches below — at European Council summits “without shame.”

Erdoğan, who called the Greek Cypriots “rude," said "you can't have a flag like that" while there is a Turkish-Cypriot state on the island. The breakaway state in the north is recognized only by Turkey. Anastasiades’ government is recognized around the world except in Turkey.

Anastasiades said Erdoğan's comments were “undermining the climate of trust” at a crucial phase of negotiations to reunite the island.

Leaders from both sides hit an impasse last week after two days of talks in Switzerland. They both returned home and said they would "reflect on the way forward."