Cyprus marked the 51st anniversary of Turkey’s 1974 invasion on Sunday, July 20, with solemn memorials in the south and controversial celebrations in the north, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reignited tensions by calling for international recognition of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state.
Air raid sirens rang out at 5.30 am across Greek Cypriot areas, marking the moment Turkish troops landed on the island in 1974 following a coup backed by Greece.
President of the Cyprus Republic Nikos Christodoulides attended a memorial for the more than 3,000 people killed, vowing: “Despite those who want us to forget, we will never forget, or yield an inch of land.” He condemned celebrations in the north as “shameful.”
Meanwhile, Erdogan visited the Turkish-occupied north and used the occasion to press for the recognition of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which only Turkey recognises.
“Turkey is and always will be present in Cyprus,” he said, adding that the time had come for the world to accept “the reality on the ground.”
He called the 1974 invasion a “peace operation” and urged diplomatic and economic engagement with the TRNC, calling its isolation “unfair.”
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar echoed his stance, saying the invasion brought “peace and tranquility” after “the darkest years” for Turkish Cypriots.
The dispute continues to hamper reunification talks and complicates Turkey’s relationship with the European Union.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned last week that despite ongoing discussions, “there is a long road ahead.”
Source: Yahoo
