TR

President Ersin Tatar and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, take part in the military parade at the Dr Fazıl Küçük Boulevard in Lefkoşa

President Ersin Tatar and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, have taken part in the official military parade at the Dr Fazıl Küçük Boulevard in Lefkoşa as part of the 51st anniversary celebrations of the 20 July Peace and Freedom Day.

In his speech during the ceremony, President Tatar emphasised the joy and pride of commemorating the 51st anniversary of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, a historic turning point for the Turkish Cypriot people. He recalled the morning of July 20, 1974, when Turkish forces launched a landing operation from the sea and air, which he said “marked one of the most euphoric moments in Turkish Cypriot history”.

President Tatar stated that since the end of the Peace Operation, the island has not experienced any armed conflict between the two peoples — proof of the operation’s success. He highlighted the atrocities of "Bloody Christmas" in December 1963 – after the Turkish Cypriots were expelled from the state apparatus by force of arms from the partnership Republic of Cyprus they had co-founded three years earlier.  “The aim of the Greek Cypriots was to unite Cyprus with Greece (Enosis) and they initiated systematic attacks, which led to mass displacement and years of hardship for Turkish Cypriots, who were deprived of their basic human rights, forced to live in camps and relying on the support from the Turkish Red Crescent,” President Tatar said.

Drawing parallels to the developments in Gaza, the President underlined that “the Turkish Cypriots endured similar suffering six decades ago”.    He stated that the July 15, 1974 coup d’etat  by the Greek junta and its collaborators in Cyprus had “aimed to exterminate Turkish Cypriots, same as what had happened to Turks in Crete. The Peace Operation was a legitimate response under those dire conditions”.

President Tatar recalled that when he announced his candidacy for the presidency five years ago, he put forward a simple message and vision: “I stated that federal based negotiations going back to 1968 have been tried, failed and exhausted.  There has been no lasting outcome from the negotiations under this basis, and I stated that there was a need to take a new approach for a realistic and sustainable two States settlement. The reason for this is because the Greek Cypriot side does not wish to share the governance and resources of the Island of Cyprus on the basis of equality with the Turkish Cypriot People – whom they see as a minority in Cyprus they consider a Hellenic island.”    He criticised the Greek Cypriot side for misleading Turkish Cypriots under the guise of the "Republic of Cyprus" and continuing embargoes and isolation.

Stating that the “Greek Cypriot side had rejected a UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan (Annan Plan) in the separately held simultaneous referenda in April 2004 by 76 per cent, which was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot people by 65 per cent,” President Tatar said: “The international community had promised Turkish Cypriots in that period that the inhumane isolation and restrictions depriving our people from the enjoyment of direct flights, direct trade and direct contacts (3Ds), would be ended. This is a matter I raised at the informal meeting in Geneva.”

President Tatar stated that a “new and formal negotiation process can be started following the reaffirmation of our sovereign equality and equal international status”, adding that “we would accept the manifestation of the 3Ds as initially constituting our sovereign equality.”

He added that the “Annan Plan was a milestone in the history of the Island of Cyprus. It was a momentous event where the Greek Cypriots,  who rejected the solution plan itself, were unilaterally accepted as a member of the EU a week later -- whilst Turkish Cypriots were left out in the cold.  Turkish Cypriot People are continuing to face the unjust isolation. . . and even our youth, our sports clubs cannot participate in prominent international sports tournaments through no fault of their own. This situation should not have a place in this day and age,” President Tatar said.

President Tatar emphasised that during three informal meetings on Cyprus convened by the UN Secretary-General himself -- with the presence of the guarantor powers, Türkiye, Greece and the UK, the Turkish Cypriot side has, with the full support of Türkiye, “firmly presented its vision for a two State settlement”.

“These meetings are important diplomatic platforms where there is equal representation from both sides,” President Tatar said, adding: “Despite the intransigence and maximalist attitude of the Greek Cypriot leadership, understanding had been reached in four new areas in New York last week in addition to six previously agreed-upon topics”.   He stated that this outcome is “proof that our vision is yielding positive results”. Nevertheless, he criticised the Greek Cypriot side for “refusing cooperation in key areas, including on water resources and energy, and for obstructing Turkish Cypriot proposals on border crossings and police cooperation”.

The President criticised those who attempt to discredit the two State position, and said that they are "lacking both principles and understanding of international diplomacy". He asserted that the Turkish Cypriot leadership is "no longer passively waiting for a Greek Cypriot green light but is actively shaping the future of the island as an equal partner", adding: “I am committed to walking  on the path together with Motherland Türkiye despite internal and external criticism. . . with the support of President Erdoğan, the new position will eventually succeed internationally. I wish to express my gratitude to President Erdoğan and to Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, for their continued backing”.

Stating that “we are in an era when the old-world order is collapsing and a new one is yet to be established”, President Tatar stated that the “continuation of the guarantee of Türkiye and the presence of the Turkish soldiers on the Island is crucial for our wellbeing and security”. The President pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side was developing ties with countries like Israel and France, and said the catastrophe that could come about on the Island was demonstrated in the Israel–Iran conflict.

The President continued: “In light of the international conjuncture, we are determined to advocate for the TRNC and a two State settlement on every diplomatic platform—from Germany to the UK, from the US to Central Asia. Our vision has started to yield successes in a relatively short period of time. The TRNC has been accepted as an observer to the Organisation of Turkic States.  We are a member of the Economic Cooperation Organisation, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, where our flag is hoisted with pride”.

Highlighting projects such as the new Republic Complex — which he stated are "symbols of a strong and respected future" — President Tatar thanked Turkish officials, particularly President Erdoğan and Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, for their contributions.

President Tatar also pointed out that the TEKNOFEST 2025 had been held in the TRNC, and added that a Fiber Transformation Protocol had lastly been signed with Türk Telekom, which supports their goal of turning the island into an information and technology hub.

In closing, President Tatar commemorated the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation with pride and paid tribute to Turkish Cypriot leader Dr Fazıl Küçük and Founding President Rauf Denktaş, and key Turkish leaders who supported the cause. He also expressed gratitude to the Turkish Armed Forces, veterans, and martyrs, concluding with:

“Happy 20 July Peace and Freedom Day. How proud is the one who says ‘I am a Turk.’”



Address of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, also addressed the participants at the parade. He called on the international community to formally recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and to immediately establish diplomatic, political, and economic ties, including allowing direct flights and direct trade.

President Erdoğan underlined the support of Türkiye to President Tatar’s vision of a two State settlement, and emphasised that the July 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation was legitimate and necessary in response to systematic violations and attacks against the Turkish Cypriot people.

He highlighted the historical suffering of Turkish Cypriots, who were treated as refugees in their own homeland despite being one of the island’s indigenous people since 1571, where he said: “All the flowers of Cyprus could not erase the scent of blood shed by Makarios on this island.”

President Erdoğan stated that July 20 marks the day when Turkish forces and brave Turkish Cypriots defeated the Union of Cyprus with Greece (Enosis) dream, and brought peace to the island. He stressed the importance of remembering the events leading to the operation, urging younger generations to understand the horrors of the past, including EOKA’s brutalities and the massacres of "Bloody Christmas."

He listed numerous atrocities, including the Kumsal Massacre and the killings in Lefkoşa State Hospital, and declared that Türkiye would never forget the pain inflicted on the Turkish Cypriots.

Criticising the Greek Cypriot leadership for “repeatedly rejecting peace plans and sabotaging negotiations”, President Erdoğan said that the Turkish Cypriot side does not have another 60 years to waste with failed and exhausted negotiations based on federal models”.

President Erdoğan noted that despite Greek Cypriot attempts to portray themselves as the “sole rulers of the island”, the “TRNC is now represented in key international organisations”. He praised Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev and their support for the Turkish Cypriot cause.

President Erdoğan underlined the “unity between Türkiye and the TRNC” and referenced “joint efforts on major projects like the new Lefkoşa State Hospital and the second phase of the Lefkoşa Ring Road”.

Highlighting TEKNOFEST’s success, President Erdoğan pledged continued support for initiatives in tourism, education, technology, and digitalisation.

Concluding his speech with verses from Rauf Denktaş, President Erdoğan stated: “With the support of Türkiye, the Turkish Cypriot people will forever live freely in their homeland. We will build a TRNC where past tragedies will never be relived."