51 Years On: Turkey Demands Two-State Cyprus, Defying Calls for Unity
51 Years On: Turkey Demands Two-State Cyprus, Defying Calls for Unity
On the 51st anniversary of Turkey’s 1974 invasion that split Cyprus in two, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his unwavering demand for a two-state solution and celebrated what he called a “peace operation,” while Greek and Cypriot leaders condemned the ongoing occupation and called for the island’s reunification under international law.
Speaking at a public works inauguration ceremony in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, Erdogan declared his “absolute” support for the existence of two separate states on the island.
He asserted that “every stone we place here is a symbol of brotherhood, security and peace for the Turkish Cypriots” and emphasized that Turkey “is and always will be present” in Cyprus.
Endorsing Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s vision, Erdogan urged the international community to acknowledge “the reality on the ground”—the self-declared, internationally unrecognized “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (TRNC), proclaimed in 1983. He deemed its non-recognition “unfair” and expressed belief that diplomatic and economic ties would eventually be forged.
In a post on social media platform X, Erdogan commemorated the invasion as a “Peace and Freedom Day,” honoring “martyrs who gave their lives for the Turkish Cypriot people’s struggle for existence.”
Greece condemns Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus
In sharp contrast, Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, along with Greek political leaders, issued solemn statements condemning the invasion and remembering its victims.
President Tasoulas powerfully stated:
“Fifty-one years after the illegal invasion of the Turkish army in Cyprus—an act that violated the United Nations Charter and international law—the island remains divided and continues to suffer the consequences of Turkey’s brutal aggression.”
He detailed the enduring impact, citing “the illegal Turkish military occupation of more than one-third of Cypriot territory, mass violations of the human rights of the Cypriot people, missing persons, displaced citizens, enclaved communities, illegal settlements, and the destruction of Greek and Orthodox cultural heritage.” Tasoulas paid tribute to those who fought and sacrificed their lives to defend the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis marked the “dark anniversary” as a reminder of “raw violence, loss, and displacement” as well as a call for renewed efforts toward reunification. He emphasized the imperative for “a modern European state—without occupying forces—and ready to serve as a beacon of stability and peace in the troubled waters of the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Mitsotakis affirmed that a just resolution to the Cyprus issue is a matter of international law and a demand of 21st-century civilization, urging progress in intercommunal talks based on UN Security Council resolutions, with Athens and Nicosia remaining “committed and in full cooperation on this path.”
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