“Enough. Yeter. Enough.”
Today marks fifty-two full years since the dark anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, with the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus sending its own message.
July 20, 1974.
Fifty-two years after July 20, 1974, Turkey continues to illegally occupy 37% of Cypriot territory, keeping open one of the most tragic wounds of modern European history.
In its message, the Presidency points out that, for five decades now, Ankara has refused to provide answers regarding the fate of the missing persons, has continued the illegal settlement of the occupied areas, is destroying Cyprus’s religious and cultural heritage, and is depriving all Cypriots of the right to live freely and in a reunified homeland.
The post reads as follows:
52 years later, Turkey continues to illegally occupy 37% of our homeland, perpetuating one of the greatest crimes in Europe’s postwar history.
For 52 years, it has refused to provide answers regarding the fate of the missing persons, has expanded illegal settlement, destroyed our religious and cultural heritage, and deprived all Cypriots of the right to live freely in their homeland.
READ ALSO: Who is Ayşe, who “came on vacation” to Cyprus during the dark summer of 1974
Her actions constitute a flagrant violation of international and European law, the United Nations Charter, the sovereignty, the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all Cypriots.
Fifty-two years later, the wound remains open. The sirens of tragedy continue to sound. We do not forget. We do not compromise. We do not accept the status quo.
SEE ALSO: 52 Years of Mourning: The Psychological Consequences of the Turkish Invasion on the Cypriot People
No solution is not a solution. We will not accept partition. Our goal is to end the illegal occupation, liberate our homeland, and reunify it.
Guided by memory and justice, we continue our struggle for a sustainable and workable solution, based on United Nations resolutions, on the principles, values, the law, and the acquis communautaire of the European Union.
READ ALSO: “I was holding the baby with half its head missing”: The brutal murder of 8-year-old Stavros and his grandmother Margarita during the coup
July 20, 1974:
52 years later, Turkey continues to illegally occupy 37% of our homeland, perpetuating one of the greatest crimes in Europe’s postwar history.
For 52 years, it has refused to provide answers regarding the fate of the missing persons and has expanded its illegal… pic.twitter.com/k6KbaxMaUt
— Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus (@CYpresidency) July 20, 2026
