A strong statement from Özgür Özel: The Greek representative left the room when he said 'occupation'.

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Republican People's Party Chairman Özgür Özel attended the Socialist International Presidium Meeting in New York City, United States (USA). A scandal that occurred during the speeches at the meeting infuriated CHP leader Özgür Özel.

"THE CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION WAS CARRIED OUT UNDER CHP GOVERNMENT"

Stefanos Stefanou, General Secretary of the AKEL Party in the Greek Cypriot Administration, described the Cyprus Peace Operation as "occupation" during his speech at the meeting. Özel reacted to Stefanou's remarks by first leaving the meeting room and then taking the floor to express his response.

Özgür Özel stated, "The important part for my party is this: the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation was carried out under the CHP government and the premiership of our third General President Bülent Ecevit. Therefore, if I do not note this here, it would turn into an incomprehensible situation for me and my party in my country. Thank you for your understanding."

"I HOPE FOR PEACE TO COME TO THE ISLAND"

Özel continued his remarks, saying, "When Bülent Ecevit announced the Peace Operation to the whole world, he stated that it was carried out to bring peace to both Turks and Greeks. And the operation was a military operation with political objectives. They only advanced to one-third of the island and stopped. There was no resistance. They could have taken the entire island. Then it would have been called an occupation. Since that day, just as we participated in all peace talks, Turkey has become a country that fulfills everything demanded by the United Nations or other international organizations and has never acted like an occupier. Therefore, I wanted to correct a terminological mistake. From now on, I hope for peace to come to the island. In 1980, they staged a coup in Turkey. Kenan Evren whispered in my right ear that the Greeks and Greeks were enemies. But at the Dikili Peace Festival, Papandreou and İsmail Cem planted an olive tree together. Since that day, my left ear has heard and learned peace from them. Therefore, we need to talk about peace, not war.