Message from President Erdoğan on the Cyprus Peace Operation

20.07.2025 15:34

Exactly 51 years ago today, "Ayşe went on vacation," the Turkish army supported the struggle for the life and rights of the Turkish Cypriots. The steps taken on July 20, 1974, stopped the oppression and brought peace and freedom. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated the Turkish Cypriot people on the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day, stating, "I commemorate our martyrs with mercy and express my gratitude to our heroic veterans."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shared a post on his social media account to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation and the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day.

In his post, President Erdoğan stated, "I sincerely congratulate the Turkish Cypriot people on the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day. On the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, I remember our martyrs who gave their lives for the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people with mercy, and I express my gratitude to our heroic veterans."

ÖMER ÇELİK: WE ARE AT THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION

AK Party Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesman Ömer Çelik included the following statements in his message published on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation and the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day:

"We are at the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation. We celebrate the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day of the Turkish Cypriots. We remember our martyrs with mercy. We pay our respects to our heroic veterans. The support our President provides to the TRNC on every international platform continues to produce extremely meaningful and effective results. We continue to support the just cause of the Turkish Cypriots."

51 YEARS AGO TODAY "AYŞE WENT ON VACATION"

The Cyprus Peace Operation, carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) on July 20, 1974, aimed to prevent the oppression and persecution of Turks by the Greeks in Cyprus and to establish peace and tranquility on the island.

THE ROAD TO THE OPERATION

According to international treaties based on the partnership between the two peoples on the island, the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, established in 1960, recognized equal political rights and status for the Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples.

However, the Greek Cypriot side continuously attempted to exclude, isolate, and eliminate the Turkish Cypriots from state institutions and to pave the way for unification with Greece (Enosis). The Republic of Cyprus effectively ended after the unilateral use of force by Greek Cypriots in 1963, which abolished the constitution.

GREEKS TURNED AGAINST EACH OTHER

While the Greeks armed themselves to achieve the goal of Enosis, they increased attacks, pressure, persecution, and embargoes against Turkish Cypriots with the support of Greece between 1963 and 1974. The removal of Turkish Cypriots from the administration of the partnership state led to divisions among the Greek Cypriots.

Disagreements among EOKA members led to a confrontation between Greek leader Makarios, who wanted to eliminate the Turks economically and was afraid of Turkey's intervention, and EOKA-B members, who wanted quick results. With the support of the Greek junta, EOKA leader Nikos Sampson staged a coup against Makarios on July 15, 1974, aiming to unite the island with Greece, temporarily seizing power. Thus, an attack was made on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus.

During the talks between then-Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit and British Foreign Secretary James Callaghan, a joint intervention proposal was made to England. After England's negative response, Turkey initiated the Cyprus Peace Operation on July 20, 1974, based on the Guarantee Agreement and considering the security of the Turks on the island. The operation was announced to the world with the historic statement of Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, "We are actually going to the island not for war, but for peace, and to bring peace not only to the Turks but also to the Greeks."

"AYŞE SHOULD GO ON VACATION"

In the second phase of the conference that began on August 8, Greece rejected all proposals for establishing a new constitutional order on the island and made the withdrawal of Turkish troops a precondition for reaching an agreement on the constitution.

Additionally, by the second meeting, Greek and Greek soldiers were supposed to withdraw from the area where the Turks were located, but they not only did not withdraw but also continued their attacks. When no results emerged from the discussions of the 2nd Geneva Conference, the second phase of the Cyprus Peace Operation began on August 14 under the slogan "Ayşe should go on vacation," and a ceasefire was declared on August 16. While the operation was successfully concluded, the security of the Turkish Cypriot people living on the island was also ensured. During the second operation, the withdrawing Greek soldiers burned the Turkish villages they passed through and massacred unarmed people. Mass killings and graves were uncovered at the end of the operation.

During the Cyprus Peace Operation, the Turkish army lost 498 martyrs, while the Turkish Cypriot side lost 70 mujahideen and 270 people. Overall, the Turkish Cypriots lost 1,672 martyrs.

TURKISH CYPRIOTS ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN ADMINISTRATION

Immediately after the operation that led to the drawing of today's borders of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriots established the Autonomous Turkish Cypriot Administration on October 1, 1974. Subsequently, the Turkish Cypriots experienced the establishment of a state structure, drafting a constitution, and transitioning to a multi-party system, leading to the declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on February 13, 1975. The TRNC Assembly unanimously declared the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on November 15, 1983. The declaration of the TRNC marked an important turning point in the political life of the Turkish Cypriot people, announcing their right to self-determination to the world.

With the period of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in which the Turkish Cypriot people achieved statehood, a total of 41 governments (including the current government) were established, and 13 different individuals held the position of prime minister. Since 1974, Turkish Cypriots have gone to the polls 9 times to elect a president, and 4 different individuals have held the presidential office.

The constitution of the TRNC provides for representative democracy. In the TRNC, where a multi-party democracy is practiced, the President, who is at the head of the state, comes to power through elections held every 5 years. In the country where the legislative authority belongs to the 50-member Republic Assembly, the executive authority is held by the Council of Ministers formed under the leadership of the prime minister appointed by the President. General elections for members of parliament are also held every 5 years.