When Turkish military forces invaded the island of Cyprus on July 20, 1974, Ankara argued that it was defending the status quo and heading off the forced annexation of the island by a military junta in Greece. Yet today, on the 35th anniversary of the invasion, Cyprus remains the only forcibly divided country in Europe, and one of the continent's most intractable problems. Recently, National Journal correspondent James Kitfield spoke with Andreas Kakouris, Cyprus' ambassador to the United States. Edited excerpts from their interview follow. NJ: After decades of United Nations resolutions and mediation on Cyprus, why is the island still divided? Kakouris: We've been unable to move forward on a solution to the Cyprus problem because, quite frankly, Turkey hasn't accepted the solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation that is the framework of countless United Nations resolutions. [Cypriot] President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat recently reiterated their support for that framework, with a single citizenship and political equality for everyone. Successive Turkish governments, however, have pushed instead for a solution based on a weak confederation of two distinct states. NJ: What exactly is meant by a "bizonal" and "bicommunal" republic? Kakouris: Within Cyprus you would have two areas, one of Greek Cypriot constituents, and the other of Turkish Cypriot constituents, but both parts of a federal republic. So there would be only one state and a single citizenship. By contrast, today 43,000 Turkish troops occupy 37 percent of the sovereign territory of a member of the European Union. In that occupied area there are 85,000 Turkish Cypriots and 160,000 Turkish settlers who have come since the invasion. There are 200,000 Cypriot refugees who remain displaced by the invasion. There are also problems of economic displacement, human rights violations, and the destruction of cultural artifacts.
The main aim is to reach an agreed solution to the Cyprus problem, through the UN-led peace process and on the basis of the UN relevant resolutions, the High Level Agreements between the two sides, the EU values and principles and the EU Acquis Communitaire, House President Marios Garoyian has stressed. Addressing a ceremony for the missing persons in Cyprus, organized by Organisation of Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons of Cyprus, Garoyian said that the people of Cyprus support President Christofias on his efforts to solve Cyprus problem within the framework of the direct negotiation process. “Unfortunately, the Turkish stance and behavior does not leave room for optimism so far. Instead of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, the Turkish side pursues a confederation or a two state solution in Cyprus”, he added. Garoyian pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side does not accept such kind of solution. “We know that the continuation of the Cyprus problem is against us. However, we are not ready to commit a suicide, nor to mortgage our future under Turkey`s demands``, he stressed. Referring to the humanitarian issue of the missing persons, Garoyian said that it represents the most tragic aspect of the Cyprus problem. He also noted that concerning this issue, minor steps have been done. ``The identification of the remains of tens of missing persons cannot be considered as an important step. The fate of hundreds of missing persons remains unknown until today, in violation of every principles of legitimacy and every sense of respect on human rights``, he pointed out. Garoyian blamed Turkey for the delay on the process of identification. ``What we demand is speeding up the process, in order an effective research for establishing the fate of each missing person to be conducted``, he added.
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis pledged on Sunday that his countrymen "would not forget the Turkish invasion of Cyprus" on the 35th anniversary of events that divided the island. Karamanlis said Greece would keep up pressure to end the division of the Mediterranean island and to bring down "the last barrier still standing on the European territory. "The anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus is a day to remember and at the same time confirm our commitment to searching for a fair and workable solution to the Cyprus problem," the premier said in a statement. Athens and the Cypriot Embassy organised a religious ceremony in an Orthodox church in the Greek capital to commemorate the victims of the Turkish invasion. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded the northern third in response to an Athens-engineered Greek Cypriot coup aimed at union with Greece.
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Prime-minister of Greece Mr. K. Karamanlis sent a clear message to Turkey. “The anniversary of Turkish invasion of Cyprus is a day of memory and honor and a reason for reconfirmation of the firm dedication of Hellenism for a permanent, just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue. Mr. Karamanlis also wished that negotiations would lead to an agreement that would bear the seal of the two communities without third parties'Α interventions and fabricated timetables. PASOK said that it supports the efforts of Cyprus Republic President Dimitris Hristofias for a solution to the Cyprus question. In the meantime, Turkey escalates provocations in the Aegean.
An inter-party delegation of the Greek parliament was in Nicosia for events marking the 35th 'anniversary' of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The Hellenic parliament delegation is led by ruling New Democracy MP Krinio Kanellopoulou, who also chairs the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and defence, ND deputy Maria Kolla-Tsaroucha, main opposition PASOK MP Alexandros Athanassiadis, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MP Haralambos Haralambous, Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) MP Sophia Andriopoulou, and Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) MP George Georgiou. In the morning, the delegation attended a memorial service for the 56 officers and conscripts of the Greek Force in Cyprus (ELDYK) who died in the Turkish invasion, as well as a service for the recovery of the 37 ELDYK men who went missing in the invasion. Wreaths were laid at the ELDYK monument by Cyprus defence minister Costas Papacostas, Greece's ambassador to Cyprus Vassilis Papaioannou on behalf of the Greek government, MP Kanellpoulou on behalf of the Greek parliament, and ELDYK commander colonel George Thalassinos. Kanellopoulou told ANA-MPA that the Hellenic parliament honors the heros who died or went mission in the Turkish invasion, which she said was "one of the most dramatic moments in the history of Cyprus and Greece". "It is our duty to fight with all our strength for a just and viable solution of the Cyprus issue," she added. The Cyprus defence minister presented honorary plaques to ELDYK soldiers who survived the invasion.
"Today marks a solemn day as we observe the 35th anniversary of the illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus by the Republic of Turkey. This was, and remains to this very day, an intolerable act; one that is a gross violation of the rule of law, human rights, and democratic ideals. We pause to remember the innocent civilians who lost their lives and thousands who went missing, including four American citizens whose investigations remain incomplete. The illegal invasion and occupation caused the displacement of nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees, including my family, who to this day are unable to return to their homes which is also a violation of human rights as determined by the European Commission on Human Rights... Ultimately the key to a successful settlement rests in Ankara. We call on the U.S. government to convey a strong message to Turkey that it must provide the Turkish Cypriot community with the necessary freedom to negotiate a solution within the July 8 framework, and equally as important, facilitate the removal of 43,000 of its troops from the island... Therefore, on this 'black anniversary' we call on Turkey to begin the removal of its 43,000 troops from Cyprus. These are troops that we contend, as American citizens, would serve a better purpose, especially to NATO, in another theatre such as Afghanistan as opposed to Cyprus where there have been 15 million incident-free crossings by Greek and Turkish Cypriots... We call for these actions in the best interests of the United States...."
On July 20, 1974, in violation of United Nations Charter and international law, Turkey’s military invaded and continues to occupy over 1/3 of the Republic of Cyprus, a democratic and internationally recognized sovereign state. Chapter 1, Article 2, Paragraph 4 reads as follows: “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.” In response to Turkey’s violation of international law, the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 353, which: 1. “Calls upon all states to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus; 2. “Calls upon all parties to the present fighting as a first step to cease all firing and requests all states to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any action which might further aggravate the situation; 3. “Demands an immediate end to foreign military intervention in the Republic of Cyprus that is in contravention of operative paragraph 1 above; and 4. “Requests the withdrawal without delay from the Republic of Cyprus of foreign military personnel present otherwise than under the authority of international agreements, including those whose withdrawal was requested by the President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, in his letter of 2 July 1974”. However, the Turkish occupying regime did not adhere to the calls at re-establishing law and order, not to mention peace. During the first offensive of 20 July 1974, Turkey managed to capture 8% of the Republic’s territory. However, with the “cease-fire” in place they violated Security Council resolutions and the agreements signed at Geneva[18] by proceeding with a second offensive. On 15 August 1974, the Turkish military illegally captured an incredible 38% of Cyprus. If at first you do not succeed initially, try and try again. Even though Security Council resolution 353 called for a “cease-fire” and the Foreign Ministers of the Guarantor Powers were in discussions on how to solve the dire situation, Turkey planned and executed their plan of partition on the island.