On the 49th anniversary of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots all over the world call for an end to the occupation.
HDN Newsroom
Greek Cypriot diaspora organisations in the U.S. and Australia have released messages of condemnation regarding Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus on its 49th anniversary.
The International Coordinating Committee for Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) also issued a statement yesterday, Thursday, marking the 49th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and urging an end to the occupation.
In the United States, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) released a statement on Thursday to mark the 49th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and called for an end to the occupation. AHI condemned proposals for a “two-state solution” for the island as well as Turkey’s reopening of the beach at Varosha.
In Australia, the visiting Deputy Government Spokesperson of Cyprus, Doxa Komodromou, represented the Republic of Cyprus at various events across Australia, commemorating the July 20 invasion of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974. On Sunday in Melbourne, she also condemned the junta organised by Athens and EOKA B for providing an excuse to the Turks to invade in 1974. She also denounced the continued and illegal occupation of the north of Cyprus.
SEKA Victoria released a statement, stating that the Turkish invasion in 1974 “constitutes a violation of human rights and international law.” “The Cypriot people have endured continuous struggle, pain, and injustice, with the sole determination to reunify their island. This invasion traumatized and displaced thousands of Cypriots, forcing many families to become refugees in other countries, including Australia,” Kyriakou said.
“Erdogan’s position contravenes the positions of the United Nations and the U.S. government. The United States must condemn Erdogan’s support for illegally re-opening the beach in Varosha and overt promotion of irredentist policies,” SEKA Victoria said.
AHI and SEKA both called for the removal of all Turkish troops from the Republic of Cyprus and underscored that Turkey disregards United Nations resolutions. It is estimated that the Turkish invasion resulted in the displacement of over 165,000 Greek Cypriots, who were subsequently replaced by 160,000 settlers from Turkey. This illegal colonization has altered the demographic character of the island, violating Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from deporting or transferring parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.
AHI specifically pointed that Turkey has also contravened United States law as a NATO nation by “transferring American-made weapons from mainland Turkey to Turkish-occupied Cyprus.”
“The United States government must send a strong message to President Erdogan that Turkish troops and settlers must be removed from Cyprus,” it noted, while stating that “in addition, The Treaty of Guarantee, which would allow for future Turkish military invasions and occupations of Cyprus, must be abandoned.”
On July 23, Deputy Government Spokesperson of Cyprus, Doxa Komodromou will attend the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Theotokos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, where a memorial service will be held for the fallen heroes and a prayer for the discovery of the missing.
The International Coordinating Committee for Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) issued a statement on Thursday, marking the 49th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and urging an end to the occupation. Additionally, PSEKA criticized the international community for applying double standards in their response to the Cyprus invasion versus Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“As we witness the tragic events in Ukraine due to the illegal invasion by Russia, we remind everyone that the first invasion in Europe was July 20, 1974 by a pre-meditated invasion of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey,” PSEKA said.
“On the pretext of protecting the 18% Turkish minority, but in reality for geopolitical and military reasons, Turkey violated American law, UN Resolutions and unleashed a brutal invasion killing thousands, creating 200,000 refugees and 49 years later, still illegally occupies 36% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, a member of the European Union,” it said.
“The double standard between world reaction of Ukraine and Cyprus has shaken our faith in democratic principles, human rights and the effectiveness of the United Nations. We call on [US] President [Joe] Biden, leader of the free world, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, to finally hold Turkey accountable and end the 49 year occupation of 36% of the Republic of Cyprus”, PSEKA continued.
