It was the dawn of July 20, 1974, when sirens wailed in Cyprus as 43,000 heavily armed Turkish troops invaded the island from the northern coast of Kyrenia.
Using the military coup that was instigated by the Greek junta as pretext, Turkey took over 37% of the island and the biggest part of its rich coastline. The Turkish occupation army is still in place 41 years later, after endless negotiations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish side.
On the same day, the United Nations Security Council, through Resolution 353, called for “an immediate end to foreign military intervention in the Republic” and “the removal, without delay, from the Republic of Cyprus of any foreign military personnel presence not provided for under international agreements.” Yet, the resolution has changed nothing.
This morning, a memorial service for army officers and soldiers killed during the invasion took place at Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia, in the presence of President Nicos Anastasiades.
A formal church memorial service will be held later at Faneromeni Church in Nicosia, to be attended by the President and the island’s political leadership. A series of other anti-occupation events will also take place during the day.
Meanwhile, UN-backed talks between President Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to reunite the island continue.
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