At 5:20 am, Greek Cypriots in the internationally recognized southern part of Cyprus were awakened by air raid sirens, a stark reminder of the Turkish invasion that began fifty years ago. The arrival of thousands of Turkish troops on the eastern Mediterranean island in 1974 remains a poignant memory for many.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis commemorated the event by posting an image of a blood-stained map of Cyprus on LinkedIn, captioned: “Half a century since the national tragedy of Cyprus.” Mitsotakis was set to participate in events marking “the black anniversary” later in the evening.
Celebration in the North
In stark contrast, the Turkish-occupied north celebrated the anniversary with joy. Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, flew in to attend a military parade and fly-past commemorating the “peace operation.” In his speech, Erdoğan referred to the breakaway territory, which has been recognized only by Ankara since its unilateral declaration of independence in 1983, as “the apple of our eye, a part of our soul.”
Erdoğan praised the 1974 invasion, code-named Attila, stating it ended “the 11-year darkness enveloping” the Turkish Cypriots, who made up 18% of the island’s population at the time. “The Cyprus peace operation saved Turkish Cypriots from cruelty and brought them to freedom,” he told the crowd in Nicosia.
Historical Context
The Turkish invasion followed a coup orchestrated by the military junta in Athens, aiming to annex Cyprus to Greece. This coup, which saw the island’s president, Archbishop Makarios III, flee the country, followed years of inter-communal violence after Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960.
The month-long Turkish offensive left thousands dead, missing, tortured, raped, and taken prisoner. By 16 August 1974, Turkish troops had seized 37% of the island’s north, displacing approximately 200,000 Greek Cypriots and 45,000 Turkish Cypriots.
Reunification Efforts
Despite decades of UN-brokered reunification efforts, the island remains divided. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides described the anniversary as a time for reflection and remembrance, emphasizing the mission for “liberation, reunification, and solving the Cyprus problem.”
However, Erdoğan dashed hopes for a quick resumption of peace talks, reaffirming his support for a two-state solution, which Greek Cypriots and EU member states reject. “A federal solution in Cyprus is not possible,” he said.
International Reactions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen marked the anniversary by reiterating the EU’s support for Cyprus. “Cypriots deserve to live in a reunited country in conditions of peace, coexistence, stability, and prosperity,” she wrote on X. The EU remains committed to supporting Cyprus in its reunification efforts, in line with relevant UN security council resolutions.
Global Observances
The anniversary was marked by Cypriot diaspora communities worldwide. In the UK, over 200 Greek Cypriots protested outside the Turkish embassy in London, demanding a “free united Cyprus” and the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the north. In Melbourne, parts of the city center were illuminated in red, with a flag-raising and wreath-laying event planned for Sunday. In New York, the Orthodox Archdiocese of America announced a special memorial service for those who died or went missing during the invasion.
Reflection on the Coup
The role of Athens in the coup and US military support for the junta at the time has been increasingly criticized. “The coup of Greeks against Greek Cypriots was the biggest crime in modern Greek history,” said Takis Hadjidemetriou, a prominent progressive left figure. “It gave Turkey the opportunity to invade,” he told The Guardian. “While Greece began a new era of stability in 1974, Cyprus has yet to recover from the catastrophe brought by the coup.”
