The Turkish President, Tayyip Erdogan, in his speech before the parade in the occupied territories, stated that he is happy to celebrate the anniversary of the 1974 “peace operation,” which “allowed the Turkish Cypriot people to gain freedom,” and conveyed the greetings of 85 million Turks.

He also mentioned that the 1974 invasion demonstrated that Turkish Cypriots were not alone, as the Turkish Cypriot Mujahideen fought shoulder to shoulder with the Turkish Mehmedcik for the freedom of “Northern Cyprus.”

Erdogan said that the pseudo-state “is the apple of our eye and a part of our life,” proving that both the government and the opposition of Turkey stand united as they did half a century ago.

The Turkish President claimed that the 1974 invasion happened because, from 1963 to 1974, Turkish Cypriots were “imprisoned” in enclaves making up 3% of Cyprus’ territory.

“In 1974,” he said, “the attacks aimed at the existence of Turkish Cypriots reached their peak. Fifty years ago today, the Mehmedcik (Turkish army) took a historic step to remove the dagger aimed at their independence. As a guarantor country and motherland, we took action with our rights and obligations. We fulfilled our responsibilities as conscientious people. That day we showed that Turkish Cypriots were not alone.”

According to Erdogan, “the 1974 peace operation brought freedom and prosperity to the Turkish Cypriots. We see July 20th as a symbol of protecting sovereign rights and equality. In the South (free Cyprus), there is a mistaken mentality of seeing themselves as the sole owners of Cyprus.”

Referring to Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s visit, he said that Mitsotakis comes to honor the EOKA terrorists while the Greek Cypriots reveal that they have no intention of sharing political power and natural resources with Turkish Cypriots.

Erdogan continued: “We told the Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis that we would be in Northern Cyprus on July 20th. He is also in Southern Cyprus. We said, ‘I suppose you won’t bother us,’ and he said, ‘I wouldn’t think of such a thing.'”

Attack on Dendias

Erdogan claimed that the Republic of Cyprus shows irresponsibility and noted that “no one can step into the same river twice.” He also attacked Nikos Dendias.

“Recently, the Greek Defense Minister made irrational statements. We recently met with Mr. Mitsotakis, and I told him: ‘We will be in Northern Cyprus on July 20th, and you will be in the South; I suppose you won’t bother us from there.’ He said he wouldn’t. Extremely irresponsible steps are being taken. You can’t wash yourself twice with the same water,” he claimed.

No to a federal solution

He argued that a federal solution could not be achieved because the realities on the island must now be recognized, as the efforts made failed due to the Greek side’s responsibility.

“It benefits no one to say let’s continue negotiations from where we left off in Switzerland. We are ready to negotiate. We do not leave any hand reaching out for a solution hanging. If you want a solution, recognize the acquired rights of the Turkish Cypriots. I also hope to see the days when the leaders of the guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey, and Britain, will visit the island together. I personally told Mr. Mitsotakis. The development of relations between Turkey and Greece will also contribute to the Cyprus issue.”

Erdogan, as previously stated by Tatar, claimed that the arrests for usurping Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied territories constitute wrongful pressure because “the ‘Turkish Cypriot people’ do not succumb to threats, and Turkey cannot ignore the Turkish Cypriots.”

The Turkish President said the struggle for the recognition of the pseudo-state and for a two-state solution continues. He also referred to a decision so that Turkish Cypriot students enjoy the same privileges as Turks for studying at universities in Turkey. He concluded, “As Turkey, we will continue to share our bread, water, and future with our Cypriot brothers.”

Greek positions on the Cyprus issue remain steadfast, committed to reunification, according to diplomatic sources

Greek diplomatic sources from Athens, responding to what was heard, state that Greek positions on the Cyprus issue are clearly articulated and long-standing. These positions “are expressed uniformly by the Greek Prime Minister and the Greek government. Greece, in harmony with the Republic of Cyprus, remains firmly committed to the solution of the reunification of Cyprus within the framework of United Nations resolutions, and this will continue to be the case. There can be no question of deviation from this position, which is consistent with international law.

Besides, the Prime Minister will make a statement tonight from Nicosia.”

Christodoulides: Whatever Erdogan says, Turkey remains responsible for violating international law

The Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides, commenting on Erdogan’s presence in the occupied territories after the memorial services for the fallen, stated that whatever is said are “the repetitive rhetorics, the efforts of the occupying Turkey. Whatever Mr. Erdogan and his representatives in the occupied areas do or say, Turkey, 50 years later, continues to be responsible for violating the human rights of the entire Cypriot people, for violating international law. If Turkey truly wishes to create conditions of security and stability in the wider region, if Turkey truly wishes to come closer to the EU, with all the benefits that entail for Turkey itself, and if it wishes to participate in this effort by the states in the region for regional stability and security, it knows very well the path to achieve it.”

Tatars’ tirade with references to Mitsotakis, Dendias, and invocation of Andreas Papandreou

The Turkish Cypriot leader, in his speech at the parade in occupied Nicosia, repeated the known claims about Turkey’s “peace operation” in 1974 because, as he said, “the Greek Cypriot leadership, with the power of arms, tried to use the Republic of Cyprus as a springboard for the Union of Cyprus with Greece, excluding the Turkish Cypriots from the state founded in 1960.”

He did not fail to mention the historical “historical” review, saying that “the Greeks brutally implemented the ‘Akritas’ plan, which was the plan to destroy the Turkish Cypriots, with the Bloody Christmas on December 21, 1963, they burned and destroyed 103 of our villages and forced our people to abandon their homes.” He then spoke about the events of the coup of July 15, 1974, and Turkey’s “right” to intervene to protect the Turkish Cypriots.

He accuses the Greek side of negotiations

Tatar claimed that the pseudo-state will eventually take its rightful place in the world and achieve its goals.

He then referred to the negotiation cycles from 1974 to 2017, saying they failed due to the stance of the Greek side. “The Greek side,” he said, “still insists on a solution where the Turkish Cypriots will be a minority in a federation that will have the form of a unitary state within the EU.”

The Turkish Cypriots, Tatar said, will never accept this solution, abandoning their “state and sovereignty,” while simultaneously renouncing Turkey’s guarantees, the presence of the Turkish army in Cyprus, and the right of intervention.

He then referred to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and the goodwill they showed by approving the Annan Plan, which was rejected by the Greek Cypriots.

Insists on a two-state solution

Ersin Tatar said that after the failure of Crans-Montana in 2017, the Turkish side in 2021 declared that it could no longer discuss a federal solution and demanded recognition of sovereign equality and a two-state solution.

As he claimed, the UN Secretary-General agrees with him that there is no common ground for restarting the talks.

The Turkish Cypriot leader claimed that the Republic of Cyprus has become a center for military operations, making agreements that endanger all of Cyprus. He was likely referring to military cooperation with Israel and threats voiced by Hezbollah. He then referred to the recent visit of Defense Minister Nikos Dendias to Cyprus, saying he agreed with the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus on constructing a naval base in Mari, near Larnaca.

It should be noted that a Naval Base in Mari has existed for many years, and the decision to expand it was taken by the Anastasiades government in 2019 to also serve French Navy ships.

He also mentioned provocations by Nikos Dendias with statements against the Turkish army and provocative steps by Nicosia, conducting joint military exercises with other countries.

Tatar accused the international community of being silent about the drama of the Palestinians today, as it did in 1963-64 for the Turkish Cypriots. He claimed that the events in Gaza highlight the importance of guarantees and why Turkish Cypriots insist on maintaining Turkey’s guarantees and the presence of the Turkish army in Cyprus.

Referring to Tayyip Erdogan, he said: “Dear President. You became our voice, our breath, our breath at the UN, where the rights of the ‘Turkish Cypriot people’ are violated and not represented.”

References to Mitsotakis and Andreas Papandreou

Referring to Mitsotakis’s visit today, Tatar said that “he comes to Cyprus to condemn the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s peace operation, for the Cyprus issue,” while Greece should be the first country to be condemned for the Cyprus issue.

The Turkish Cypriot leader cited Andreas Papandreou, saying that in his book “Democracy at Gunpoint,” he mentions that his father, Georgios Papandreou, “sent 20,000 Greek soldiers, dressed in civilian clothes and fully armed, secretly to Cyprus in June 1964.”

However, according to Tatar, Turkey’s “peace operation” in 1974 put an end to the massacre of Turkish Cypriots by the Athens junta and EOKA B, ending a civil war.

And Tatar concluded, “Happy is the one who says ‘I am a Turk.'”