{"id":159015,"date":"2026-07-20T14:32:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T14:32:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/159015\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T14:32:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T14:32:24","slug":"erdogan-turkiye-wont-leave-turkish-cypriots-alone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/159015\/","title":{"rendered":"Erdo\u011fan: T\u00fcrkiye won\u2019t leave Turkish Cypriots alone"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANKARA
\n\"Erdo\u011fan:<\/p>\n

President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan<\/a> on July 20 reaffirmed his support for Turkish Cypriots, pledging that T\u00fcrkiye would continue to stand by them in what he described as their \u201cjust struggle\u201d as Ankara marked the 52nd anniversary of its 1974 military operation on the island.<\/p>\n

\u201cI congratulate the Turkish Cypriot people on their 20th July Peace and Freedom Day with my sincerest feelings, and send my greetings to my Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters,\u201d Erdo\u011fan said in a post on social media.<\/p>\n

Commemorative ceremonies, concerts, sporting events, conferences, seminars and symposiums were held across T\u00fcrkiye and Turkish Cyprus<\/a> to mark the anniversary.<\/p>\n

Erdo\u011fan did not attend the events on the island, marking the third time he has skipped the anniversary commemorations after also being absent in 2016 and 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the 52nd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, I commemorate our heroic martyrs with mercy and our veterans with gratitude,\u201d Erdo\u011fan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the motherland and guarantor country, we will never leave the Turkish Cypriot people alone in their just struggle,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Cyprus has remained divided for decades between Turkish Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south despite repeated U.N.-backed efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement.<\/p>\n

T\u00fcrkiye launched its military intervention on July 20, 1974, five days after a coup backed by Greek military junta sought to unite the island with Greece.<\/p>\n

In 2004, Greek Cypriot voters rejected a U.N.-backed reunification plan in a referendum. The internationally recognized southern administration later joined the European Union as the sole representative. The northern part is recognized only by Ankara.<\/p>\n

Negotiations to reunify the island under a bicommunal federation have been at a standstill since U.N.-sponsored talks collapsed in 2017.<\/p>\n

Messages from political leaders<\/p>\n

Turkish political leaders on July 20 marked the anniversary, reaffirming support for Turkish Cypriots.<\/p>\n

Vice President Cevdet Y\u0131lmaz said the operation \u201censured the security of Turkish Cypriots and laid the foundations for lasting peace and stability\u201d on the island.<\/p>\n

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmu\u015f, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Ya\u015far G\u00fcler also praised the operation, saying T\u00fcrkiye would continue to defend the rights and interests of Turkish Cypriots.<\/p>\n

Republican People\u2019s Party (CHP) leader Kemal K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7daro\u011flu commemorated those killed in the operation and paid tribute to veterans, while ousted main opposition leader \u00d6zg\u00fcr \u00d6zel said the security and rights of Turkish Cypriots remained \u201ca common cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bah\u00e7eli reiterated support for international recognition of Turkish Cyprus, rejected a federal settlement model for the island and criticized the European Parliament\u2019s stance on the issue. He also defended the continued presence of Turkish troops
on the island.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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