Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades tweeted on Sunday that today’s anniversary marking Turkey’s second invasion on the Republic “serves as a landmark for unity and struggle to terminate the occupation”.
42 years ago today, on August 14, 1974, Turkey’s military launched a second offensive against the Republic of Cyprus, in full contravention of international law, including the UN Charter, and despite the fact that an agreement for a ceasefire was in place.
Anastasiades’ tweet, written in Greek, translates to: “42 years later, let the anniversary of Turkey`s second invasion serve as a landmark for unity and a struggle to terminate the occupation.”
The Turkish army initially invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974, and launched its second phase on August 14, occupying Mesaoria, Famagusta, Karpasia and Morphou.
Three weeks after the ceasefire of July 22, and despite the fact that talks were still being held and just as an agreement seemed to be within reach, the Turkish army mounted a second full-scale offensive.
As a result, Turkey increased its hold to include the booming tourist resort of Famagusta on the eastern coast and the rich citrus-growing area of Morphou on the west.
All in all, almost 37 per cent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus came under Turkish military occupation.
UN-led talks between Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci resumed in May 2015 aiming to reunify the island under a federal roof.
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