Cyprus has marked the 52nd anniversary of Turkey’s 1974 invasion, with Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities looking ahead to renewed United Nations efforts to end the longstanding stalemate in peace talks.
Air raid sirens echoed across the southern Greek Cypriot government-controlled areas early Monday, marking the exact time Turkish forces landed on the island in 1974, just days after a short-lived Greek-backed coup.
Meanwhile, military commemorations were scheduled in the Turkish Cypriot north, a self-declared state recognised only by Ankara.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to visit Cyprus from July 27 to 29 in a fresh bid to revive the long-stalled peace process, which has seen no meaningful negotiations in recent years.
“We hope the conditions will be created for the resumption of negotiations,” Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said.
Efforts to reunify the island remain hindered by deep divisions over the future political structure. Greek Cypriots continue to advocate for a federal reunification, while Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership insist on the recognition of two sovereign states.
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The decades-long dispute remains a key source of friction between NATO allies Greece and Turkey and continues to stand in the way of Ankara’s aspirations of joining the European Union, which Cyprus joined in 2004.
Turkey’s 1974 military intervention came after years of escalating tensions and violence between the island’s communities following Cyprus’ independence from Britain. Turkey describes the invasion as a ‘peace operation’ undertaken to protect Turkish Cypriots.
Reuters
