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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-07-20
CONTENTS
[01] CYPRUS - 1974 TURKISH INVASION
[01] CYPRUS - 1974 TURKISH INVASION
July 20, 2011, marks 37 years since the Turkish military invasion and
subsequent occupation of 37% of Cyprus` territory by Turkey. Today,
Cyprus pays tribute to those killed during the invasion and those still
missing, with memorials and other commemorative events in the southern
government-controlled areas of the Republic. Air-raid sirens wailed at
0530 local time (0230 GMT), when the Turkish invasion was launched 37
years ago with the landing of Turkish troops on the island`s northern
shores.
In the morning, a memorial service for army officers and soldiers
killed during the invasion takes place at Makedonitissa Tomb in
Nicosia, in the presence of Cypriot President Demetris Christofias,
Greek National Defence Minister Panayiotis Beglitis, representatives of
the Hellenic Parliament and other officials. An official memorial
service will be held at Faneromeni Church in Nicosia in the presence of
President Christofias. A series of other anti-occupation events will
take place during the day. Political parties have issued statements
condemning the Turkish invasion and continuing occupation.
Turkish troops invaded Cyprus on 20 July 1974, following a coup that
toppled the legal government of the Republic which was engineered with
the Greek military junta. In a two-phase invasion and despite repeated
calls by the UN Security Council, Turkey occupied 37% of the sovereign
territory of the Republic. Ankara continues to maintain some 40,000
troops in the northern areas of Cyprus it occupies, in complete
disregard to appeals for their withdrawal and calls to contribute to a
political settlement through peace talks.
The consequences of Turkeys illegal aggression were devastating and are
still felt today by the people of this new EU member-state. Not least
among these is the gross violation of human rights, with hundreds still
listed as missing, Greek Cypriot refugees in anticipation of a solution
that would allow them to return home, enclaved Greek Cypriots being
deprived of fundamental rights and the islands 9,000 year old cultural
heritage being pillaged.
President Christofias is engaged in UN-led peace talks with the leader
of the Turkish Cypriot community since September 2008 in an effort to
find a negotiated settlement that would reunite the country, under a
federal roof. So far, little progress has been achieved, but talks will
intensify in the coming months.
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