It was 50 years ago, today, of the tragedy in Cyprus with the operation "Attila 2", the final Turkish invasion.
Alina Loi
Despite the agreed ceasefire, the Turks, violating every rule of international law, bombed Famagusta, proceeding to the second Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
Since then, Cyprus has been living with the open wound of 36% of its territory under Turkish occupation, and with thousands of dead, missing and uprooted refugees in its memory.
Nicosia, dawn of August 14, 1974. The sound of Turkish fighters starts again. The second Attila, a foreordained development, has just begun.
The results of the first invasion make the Turkish operation an almost simple affair. Through the Kyrenia bridgehead on the island there are now more than 40,000 soldiers. At least 300 tanks. More than 1,000 vehicles.
On the opposite side, the National Guard has to defend itself, counting significant losses. In men and materials. But mostly with almost non-existent morale. Many units are in a state of decomposition. The battle has been unequal from the start.
Throughout the ceasefire, from 4 p.m. on July 22, Turkish forces were advancing systematically, meter by measure, occupying more and more territory.
The presence of the Turkish Foreign Minister at the Geneva negotiations was a pretext as he now had an absolute strategic advantage and Ankara would not let this opportunity go to waste.
In Athens, the National Unity government of Constantine Karamanlis realizes in the worst possible way that it is unable to help Cyprus. It is not in a position to risk an extension of the Greek-Turkish conflict to the islands and Evros.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff admit that Greek forces cannot approach the Cypriot coast and hit Turkish targets. Nevertheless, the eyes of Greek Cypriots are on the sky. In vain. At that time, the rift between Athens and Nicosia deepens
On August 14, the second Turkish operation (Attila II) began, which lasted three days, while EOKA B members massacred civilians and women and children in the villages of Maratha, Santalari and Aloa, which the United Nations described as a crime against humanity. The Turks would conquer more than they demanded in Geneva a few hours ago.
At a meeting called by Clerides on August 14 to put Turkish demands for federation, attended by political and religious leaders and Nikos Sampson, Clerides described the situation and informed them that the Turks could occupy all of Cyprus.
On August 25, at the initiative of UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem resumed. The Turkish Cypriot side wanted federalization with population exchange, while Glafkos Clerides was ready to accept the federation but without population exchange. Finally, in August 1975, an agreement known as the Third Vienna Agreement was reached. The Turkish Cypriot interpretation maintains the view that it is a population exchange agreement while the Greek Cypriot interpretation maintains that it was a temporary humanitarian measure.
On August 14, the second Turkish operation (Attila II) began, which lasted another three days, while members of EOKA II carried out massacres of civilians and women and children in the villages of Maratha, Santalari and Aloa, which the United Nations described as a crime against humanity. The Turks would conquer more than they demanded in Geneva a few hours ago.
At a meeting called by Clerides on August 14 to put Turkish demands for federation, attended by political and religious leaders and Nikos Sampson, Clerides described the situation and informed them that the Turks could occupy all of Cyprus.
On August 25, at the initiative of UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem resumed. The Turkish Cypriot side wanted federalization with population exchange, while Glafkos Clerides was ready to accept the federation but without population exchange. Finally, in August 1975, an agreement known as the Third Vienna Agreement was reached. The Turkish Cypriot interpretation maintains the view that it is a population exchange agreement while the Greek Cypriot interpretation maintains that it was a temporary humanitarian measure.
What happened that summer remains in force to this day. 36% of the island is under Turkish occupation. More than 4,000 dead and missing. 200,000 refugees lost their people and property. Every day, but especially like today we say "WE DO NOT FORGET", nothing is forgotten.
