20.07.2026 19:30
On the 52nd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias made scandalous statements. Targeting Turkey and the Turkish presence on the island, Dendias said, "Our message to our brothers in Cyprus is clear. After the latest developments, Cyprus is close for the Greek Armed Forces."
A scandalous move came from the Athens administration on the 52nd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, in a statement made via social media, targeted Turkey and the Turkish presence on the island.
FIRST TARGETED TURKEY
The Greek Minister, trying to distort historical facts, targeted the July 20, 1974 Peace Operation in his post, saying, "The Cyprus issue continues to be a matter of illegal occupation. Nicosia should not be Europe's last divided capital."
THEN MADE AN ARROGANT THREAT
Continuing his statements, Dendias increased the dose of provocation and used overstepping words by taking it to the threat level. Dendias said, "Our message to our brothers in Cyprus is clear. Following the latest developments, Cyprus is close for the Greek Armed Forces."
CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION
Turkey, using its guarantor rights established by the 1960 Zurich and London Treaties, conducted the Cyprus Peace Operation on July 20, 1974, to protect the constitutional order and the existence of the Turkish people on the island.
The "Republic of Cyprus," established in 1960 with Turkish and Greek Cypriots as co-founders, collapsed in 1963 after Greek Cypriots, who wanted to annex the island to Greece, first expelled Turks from the state by force and then engaged in activities including killing, exiling, and forcing Turkish Cypriots to live in camps.
From 1963 until 1974, as a result of killing actions targeting Turkish Cypriots, involving primarily the EOKA terrorist organization and some Greek state officials, over 30,000 Turkish Cypriots were forced to leave more than 100 villages due to lack of security and were compelled to live in isolated camps surrounded by Greek armed forces.
After the military coup on July 15, 1974, by EOKA leader Nikos Sampson, supported by the military junta in Greece, aiming to overthrow the President of the "Republic of Cyprus," Archbishop Makarios III, the situation of the Turks living on the island worsened further.
As a result of the coup, the legitimate President Makarios III declared that the matter was not an internal affair and called upon the guarantor countries (Turkey, Greece, and the United Kingdom) to intervene in the situation.
The Turkish Armed Forces, on the morning of July 20, 1974, conducted a landing operation from the sea and an airborne operation to Cyprus, uniting with the "Mujahideen" of the Turkish Resistance Organization on the island.
Mehmetcik, who secured the Turkish presence in Cyprus, launched a second operation on August 14, 1974, after the Greeks broke the ceasefire and the ceasefire negotiations failed.