Forty-two years after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot side is engaged in negotiations with the Turkish Cypriot, based on the principles of international and EU law, with an aim to reunify the island in conditions of democracy, peace and justice, Minister of Education and Culture Costas Kadis said, addressing a memorial service in Paphos for the victims of the 1974 military coup and Turkey`s invasion.
Kadis said “forty-two years later, the infringement of fundamental freedoms and the violation of fundamental human rights of our people continues”, adding that the Turkish army continues to be reinforced and settlers from Turkey are distorting the demographic map of the country.
“It is our duty to proceed with unity and strengthen the faith in the just cause of our struggle, and to safeguard our historical identity, traditions, and culture, and also inspire optimism among the citizens, especially young people, who are the future of this country”, he said.
The Minister reminded everybody of the dire repercussions the invasion has had on the people of Cyprus: hundreds of dead, hundreds of missing persons, thousands of refugees, enclaved Greek Cypriots in Turkish occupied Cyprus, destruction of the country`s cultural and religious heritage.
On July 15, 1974 the military junta, then ruling Greece, aided by its local agents, staged a coup against the legal government of the Republic of Cyprus, toppling the late President Archbishop Makarios. Five days later, Turkey invaded on the pretext of restoring constitutional order and protecting the Turkish Cypriots.
