26.07.2026 20:01
After a Greek soldier serving in Southern Cyprus confessed to being forced to shout racist and heavily insulting slogans against Turks during training, harsh reactions came from Turkish Cypriot politicians. Deputies argued that the incidents were not isolated, claiming that anti-Turkish sentiment is systematically maintained.
A soldier named Nestor Bessios, who served for a period in the Greek Contingent (ELDYK) stationed in the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA), made striking confessions.
HEAVILY INSULTING SLOGANS TARGETING TURKS WERE MANDATORY
In letters he sent to Greek newspapers, Bessios stated that during his service in the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion of ELDYK, heavily insulting slogans targeting Turks were mandatory in training, that the command chain was aware of this situation, but despite complaints, no disciplinary process was initiated.
In his letters, Bessios argued that these racist approaches not only fueled hatred between peoples but also damaged the professional discipline of the army.
HARSH REACTION FROM TRNC DEPUTIES: THE BIGGEST PROOF THEY WILL NOT GIVE UP THEIR HATRED TOWARD TURKS
While Greek and GCA officials preferred to remain silent in response to the confessions of Greek soldier Bessios, some deputies from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) reacted harshly.
Yasemin Öztürk, a deputy of the National Unity Party (UBP), stated that the efforts of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo, fed by Turkophobia, are doomed to remain fruitless.
Öztürk, expressing that the past actions of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo against Turkish Cypriots will not be erased from memory, said: "The biggest proof that the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo, who implemented a systematic policy of extermination against Turkish Cypriots in the past, will not give up their hatred toward Turks in the future is what happened in the Greek military barracks in Cyprus."
"WE RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT GREEK CYPRIOT PRIESTS SHOOT AT TURKISH FLAGS"
UBP Deputy Zorlu Töre also drew attention to the fact that the Greek Cypriot administration, with the confidence created by its military collaborations with Greece and Israel, has turned racist rhetoric into a state policy, stating: "We receive information from southern Cyprus that Greek Cypriot priests shoot at Turkish flags. Anti-Turkish sentiment is being pumped, and a racist mentality is being nurtured. We must always be vigilant against this situation."
"WHAT HAPPENED IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT"
Töre also emphasized that the hatred and racist rhetoric toward Turks in the Greek army cannot be taken lightly, saying: "What happened is not an isolated incident. It is not something that happened and ended today. There is a persistent racism and Turkophobia."