AKEL declaration on the anniversary of the Turkish invasion
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 20th July 2020
On the occasion of the 46th black anniversary of the Turkish invasion, AKEL addresses to the Cypriot people as a whole a message of unity and struggle for the liberation and reunification of our homeland. We extends a message of support to the victims of 1974, to the enclaved people (in the occupied areas), to the refugees and relatives of the missing persons.
On 20th July 1974, Turkey took the baton over from the junta of Greece and EOKA B, proceeding to the execution of second phase of the pre-agreed NATO plan for the partition Cyprus. The hordes of the Turkish army invaded our island and carried out massacres, rapes, mass captures, looting and uprooted the Greek Cypriots. During the second phase of the invasion in the same summer, Turkey occupied 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and completed the violent separation of the two communities that began in 1963. In the years that followed the invasion, Turkey unceasingly colonalised and is still colonalising the occupied territories, implementing the systematic policy of cultural assimilation of the Turkish Cypriot community, imposing its economic control and political domination over life in the occupied territories, whilst at the same time suppressing every progressive voice within the Turkish Cypriot community. Occupation and partition constitute an ongoing crime against Cyprus as a whole and its entire people.
AKEL honors the fallen heroes and fighters of 1974 who resisted the Turkish army of Attila with self-sacrifice and self-denial. The sons of our people demonstrated with their own sacrifices what patriotism means, not the self-proclaimed “super-patriots” who prepared the ground for the invasion of the Turkish army. The Cypriot people has neither forgotten, nor forgiven the junta of Greece which prevented the sending of assistance to the Cypriot forces. Nor has the Cypriot people forgotten, nor forgiven that the coupists of EOKA B who, when the Turkish army of Attila invaded coming through the back door they themselves opened with the coup d’état, were hiding in the rear, continuing to hunt down supporters of President Makarios and the Left, while others indulged in committing bloody massacres of Turkish Cypriot civilians.
Today, Cyprus is facing a new escalation of Turkey’s aggression, which is also directed against other peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean. AKEL expresses its deep concern about the course of events, because the international community’s reaction is, unfortunately, to say the least timid, while European solidarity remains verbal. At the same time, Turkey is consolidating its occupation on a daily basis and promoting the instatement of advocates of partition in the Turkish Cypriot leadership. The prolonged absence of negotiations on the Cyprus problem and the continuing reproduction of nationalism-chauvinism within the two communities through the partitionist status quo, complete the extremely dangerous scenario.
AKEL believes that only the liberation and reunification of our country – through the solution of the Cyprus problem within the agreed framework of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation – can reverse the current course of events which poses enormous historical dangers for the Cypriot people. Only in this way will Cyprus free itself from the occupation, from Turkey’s intervention and guarantee rights that are still shackling it. The solution of the Cyprus problem based on principles can restore the human rights and fundamental freedoms of our people, which Turkey is violating with its illegal occupation. The solution of the Cyprus problem can also contribute to the solution of other problems in our wider region.
Our duty and oath to the heroes of 1974 and generations of Cypriots who have passed away without seeing Cyprus vindicated is not to compromise with the occupation and partition, with nationalism-chauvinism. This is also our duty to our country’s future and to future generations: an independent, free, sovereign and reunited Cyprus without armies, barbed wires of division and checkpoints. For a Homeland belonging to all her children Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins.
