On the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the subsequent partition of the island, Greece’s President Konstantinos Tasoulas and the heads of political parties issued statements in memory of the fallen Greeks and Cypriots, condemning the act.
“Fifty-one years after the illegal invasion of the Turkish army in Cyprus—an act that violated the United Nations Charter and international law—the island remains divided and continues to suffer the consequences of Turkey’s brutal aggression,” Tasoulas said.
He cited “the illegal Turkish military occupation of more than one-third of Cypriot territory, mass violations of the human rights of the Cypriot people, missing persons, displaced citizens, enclaved communities, illegal settlements, and the destruction of Greek and Orthodox cultural heritage.”
Tasoulas paid tribute to the Greeks and Cypriots who fought and sacrificed their lives in 1974 to defend the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.
PM Mitsotakis
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis marked the 51st anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus with a call for renewed efforts toward the island’s reunification, describing the anniversary as a reminder of “raw violence, loss, and displacement.”
“The dark anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus once again ignites the memory of brutal violence, death, and uprooting,” Mitsotakis wrote in a social media post. “But it also strengthens the struggle for the reunification of the island within the framework of a modern European state—without occupying forces—and is ready to serve as a beacon of stability and peace in the troubled waters of the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Mitsotakis stressed that a fair resolution to the Cyprus issue is both a matter of international law and a demand of 21st-century civilization.
“The current geopolitical climate in this troubled region makes it imperative,” he said, urging progress in intercommunal talks based on United Nations Security Council resolutions. “Athens and Nicosia remain committed and in full cooperation on this path.”
Defense Minister Dendias
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias marked the 51st anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus with a brief but pointed message on social media.
“51 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, July 20, 1974. Cyprus. I do not forget,” Dendias wrote on X.
The statement echoes Greece’s long-standing position of remembrance and solidarity with Cyprus as the island remains divided more than five decades after the invasion.
Other Parties
PASOK–Movement for Change leader Nikos Androulakis reiterated Greece’s commitment to the Cypriot cause, calling the ongoing division a “wound” for Hellenism, Europe, and international law.
The Greek Communist Party (KKE) and SYRIZA also issued statements to the same effect.
On July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, violating all rules of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. The illegal Turkish invasion was carried out in two phases. During the second phase, Turkey took the city of Famagusta under its control and has illegally occupied over 36% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus ever since.
