In a statement marking the anniversary of the coup, ALMA notes that “July 15, 1974, is one of the darkest moments in the modern history of Cyprus.”

The statement reads as follows

July 15, 1974, is one of the darkest moments in the modern history of Cyprus. The coup d’état organized by the junta in Athens and carried out by EOKA B against the elected President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, was the culmination of a systematic process of subversion that dismantled the constitutional order, undermined democracy, and paved the way for the Turkish invasion and the ongoing occupation of our homeland.

History leaves no room for compromise. The coup was an act of national treason. Those who, out of ideological blindness, personal ambition, or a conscious choice, turned against the Republic of Cyprus betrayed the very people they claimed to serve.

Fifty-two years later, the occupation continues, and the consequences of that betrayal continue to shape the course of the country. Historical memory is a prerequisite for political maturity. A people that blurs the lines between democracy and deviation, between resistance and betrayal, risks repeating, in different forms, the same historical mistakes.

The greatest tribute to those who defended democratic legitimacy is paid through the constant defense of democratic institutions, the rule of law, and institutional accountability. Democracy is overthrown by force of arms, but it is also eroded by the discrediting of institutions, the instrumentalization of power, and impunity that becomes the norm.

The Republic of Cyprus remains our strongest institutional and political achievement. Defending it is a shared national responsibility. Strong institutions, democratic consciousness, and a commitment to the rule of law constitute the only sure guarantee that the tragedies of the past will not be repeated.

The memory of July 15 reminds us that democracy must be won, protected, and defended every day.