Eastern Mediterranean University Atatürk Research and Application Center (EMU-ATAUM) President Assist. Prof. Dr. Turgay Bülent Göktürk released a statement regarding the 47th anniversary of 20th July Peace and Freedom Day.
“20th July is the anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation where Turkish Cypriots have proven that their indispensable rights by the international law cannot be dispossessed from them, meanwhile crowning their struggle of existence.
As a result of the Akritas Plan that can be summarized as ‘the plan to dismiss Turks from the island and kill them’ which was executed mercilessly by the Greeks between 1963-1974, the Turkish Cypriots were squeezed to 3% of the island and brought to the point to be annihilated. At the process where the Greek Junta came to realize Enosis and destroy the Turkish Cypriots whom they besieged, Turkey executed its legitimate authority from Guarantee Agreement concordantly with international law, after all the diplomatic ways were depleted on the 20th of July, 1974 with the Cyprus Peace Operation.
The operation conducted to protect Turkish Cypriot Community and secure the constitutional order in the island was being announced by the Turkish Administration President Rauf Raif Denktaş at Bayrak Radio to the public as; “Today, at this moment, the hero Turkish Armed Forces are landing everywhere on island from the air and the sea. May your getaway be blessed.”
As it can be understood from words of Turkey Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit at the time; “We are going to the island for peace. Not only for the Turks but also for the Greeks”, 20th July Peace Operation was realized against the coup that was made on the 15th of July, 1974 in order to connect the whole Cyprus to Greece. The operation went down in history as a rightful step to bring freedom for both Turkish and Greek communities ensuring the peace in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Despite all oppression by the international community, Turkish Cypriot Community have been living in peace and tranquility for 47 years at its own soil, under the flag of an independent country by the support and guarantee of Turkey.
As a result, it was proven to the world that no power exists to remove the existing will of Turkish Nation by the Peace Operation which was realized on the grounds of international agreements. Turkish Nation gave an unforgettable lesson to the ones who wanted to delete them from the stage of history, that they will not make any concessions about their independence, and that they imposed that they will exist forever to the whole world with utmost strength once again.
At this meaningful day, we would like to commemorate our martyrs, the Mücahit, Mücahide and Mehmetçik, showing our respects to our Veterans and faithfully congratulate the 20th July Peace and Freedom Day of the Turkish Cypriot Community.”
