Lefkosa, TRNC, July 20, 2024, The Europe Today: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to participate in events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, also known as Peace and Freedom Day.
In his address on Saturday, President Erdogan emphasized Türkiye’s readiness to engage in negotiations to achieve lasting peace in Cyprus. “Türkiye is ready to negotiate, discuss, and achieve a lasting peace solution in Cyprus,” he stated. Erdogan underscored the importance of recognizing the realities on the island, warning that ignoring them “will lead nowhere.” He also asserted that “a federal solution is not possible in Cyprus.”
Reaffirming Türkiye’s unwavering support for the TRNC, Erdogan noted, “We continue to support the TRNC, which was formed with the blood of our martyrs, towards becoming a strong, prosperous, and respected state.” Expressing hope for future cooperation, he added, “I hope we will see the day when the leaders of the island’s guarantor countries will visit both states together.”
Upon his arrival at Ercan Airport in Lefkosa, President Erdogan was welcomed by Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar. Following a welcoming ceremony, Erdogan laid a wreath at the Ataturk Monument in the city and signed the site’s special book.
“We are experiencing the rightful pride of reaching the 50th anniversary of the July 20 Peace Operation, which our heroic Armed Forces carried out shoulder to shoulder with the Turkish Cypriot people,” Erdogan wrote. “The Turkish nation once again showed the world its unwavering commitment to its independence and future through this operation. The Turkish Cypriot people continue their struggle for independence, crowned with victory, with the steadfast support of the Motherland Türkiye, and they look towards the future with hope and confidence.”
Erdogan also paid tribute to the Turkish soldiers who “left these lands as their homeland” and expressed his gratitude to the veterans who fought in the operation.
The island of Cyprus remains divided due to a longstanding dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, despite numerous diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement. Ethnic tensions that began in the early 1960s led to Turkish Cypriots retreating to enclaves for safety. In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup intended to annex the island to Greece prompted Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence, ultimately leading to the founding of the TRNC in 1983.
Despite the Greek Cypriot administration’s admission to the European Union in 2004, the same year that Greek Cypriots rejected a United Nations plan to resolve the dispute, the island remains divided, with ongoing efforts to find a peaceful resolution.
