The Turkish Cypriot people celebrated the 34th anniversary of the 20th of July Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus with various events and ceremonies held throughout major towns around the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

34 years ago, Turkey used her status as a guarantor power to militarily intervene on the island in order to save Turkish Cypriots from total annihilation as well as to prevent the island’s annexation to Greece through a military coup by the Greek Junta.

Within the framework of the celebrations Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his accompanying high level delegation and many foreign guests from different countries visited the TRNC.
Celebrations began at the Bogaz Martyr’s cemetery where wreaths were laid, a minutes silence was observed and flags were hoisted. This was followed by similar ceremonies at the Martyrs Monument, the Ataturk Monument and the Dr. Fazik Kucuk Monument in Lefkosa. Celebrations climaxed at the official state ceremony at the Dr. Fazil Kucuk Boulevard in the capital Lefkosa at 10am yesterday .

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Mehmet Ali Talat delivered speeches at the ceremony which ended with an official military and civilian parade.

President Talat addressing the crowd, at the 20th July Peace and Freedom Day celebrations, said that the Turkish Cypriot Side’s vision for a settlement was the establishment of a bi-zonal, bi-communal new partnership state on the basis of the political equality of two peoples and the equal status of two Constituent States. “We shall never give up the political equality of our state or our people as well Turkey’s effective guarantee. Past experiences have shown Turkish Cypriots they cannot take any chances on security” he said.

The President also said that the Turkish Cypriot people would agree to a solution in which its equal partnership in sovereignty will be registered by its inherent constitutive power.

Explaining that it was the Turkish Cypriot peoples’ desire to integrate with the rest of the world while preserving what they achieved with the 20th July Operation, President Talat said that it was for this reason why they were trying to reach an honourable and respectable settlement with the Greek Cypriot people, with whom they have to share this island.

Pointing out that despite all the good-willed initiatives launched by the Turkish Cypriot Side there were those who were trying to hold Turkish Cypriots responsible for the ongoing non-solution, Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot people were being made to pay the price of the non-settlement with the unjust international isolations.

“This is an unjust position and it does not help the efforts for a settlement” President added and said t Turkish Cypriots today did not need to prove they were in support of a solution.

“The stance put forward by Turkish Cypriots in the 2004 referendum is strong enough to crush allegations which state otherwise” he added.

Also touching upon his meetings with the Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias, the President said that despite no justifiable reason, Greek Cypriot Side was refraining from announcing a starting date for full-fledged negotiations.

Talat reiterating his call for a just, urgent and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem said, “Our vision for settlement is clear. It is the establishment of a bi-zonal, bi-communal new partnership state on the basis of the political equality of two peoples and the equal status of two constituent states and the continuation of the guarantee of Turkey. Turkish Cypriot people aim at a solution in which its equal partnership in sovereignty will be registered through using its inherent constitutive power.”

On the Greek Cypriot calls for the removal of the Turkish army from the island, Talat said the presence of the Turkish army on the island was not the reason of the Cyprus problem but was the result of it.  “Therefore, it is not even a matter of discussion to eliminate the result of the problem before its reason is eliminated,” he said. Talat also called on the Greek Cypriot side to give up its policy of exploiting the Cyprus problem as an obstacle or as a blackmailing tool in Turkey's EU membership process.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that no one should expect the Turkish Cypriot people to accept a solution which does not safeguard their political equality. Pointing out that the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation served no other purpose but to bring peace to Cyprus, the Turkish Premier said everyone should know and understand this fact.

Stressing that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot Side has no intention of abandoning its pro-solution policies; Erdogan said that Turkey was the protector of peace in the region with its policies.

Explaining that the Turkish Side had succeed in changing the international community’s negative and intransigent image of the Turkish Cypriot Side through its constructive policies, the Turkish Prime Minister said that no one should expect Turkish Cypriots to abandon their political equality and to become a minority.

Reiterating the need to remove the unjust international isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people, the Turkish Premier called on the international community, particularly the EU, to honour its promises and to take steps towards removing the isolations.

The Turkish premier also stated that Turkey’s support to develop the North’s infrastructure and economy will continue in the future.

The Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan also said Turkey has welcomed the new solution process on the island which started with the 21st March agreement and expressed his country’s expectation towards the setting of a date for full-fledged negotiations during the next Talat-Christofias meeting.

The Turkish Premier made emphasis on the fact that the solution of the Cyprus problem will be possible with the formation of a new partnership based on the existence of two equal people, two constituent states of equal status, the UN umbrella and the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General. 

“It is very clear that a comprehensive solution will be on the basis of the realities of the island,” Erdođan said.

  “A comprehensive solution will be possible in a new partnership where the Turkish Cypriot people and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will equally be represented as one of the founder states. This new partnership will be built upon such indispensable principles as bi-zonality, political equality and Turkey's effective guarantorship,” he said.   

‘We have full trust to President Talat and his team’ Erdogan added.
Mr. Erdogan also stressed that Turkey will continue its economic assistance to the TRNC as well as its efforts aimed at removing the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People.

‘Turkey will always stay by the side of the Turkish Cypriot People. The whole world must be aware of the fact that there is no way of withdrawing from this, no matter who holds the administration in Turkey’ the Turkish Premier said.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Prime Minister also attended some inaugural ceremonies in the TRNC during his three days visit.

The Turkish Premier participated in the opening ceremonies of a water transmission line, a highway, a techno-park at the Girne American University as well as a TV station in Girne, a Medicine Faculty at Near East University and an amphitheatre in Girne.

During the ceremonies, Erdogan said that Turkish Cypriots were being unjustly punished with the international isolations and expressed his belief that a just, comprehensive and permanent solution on the basis of political equality will be found on the island.

“Turkey is always standing by TRNC, and maintain its sensitivities regarding TRNC's development”, Erdogan said.

As part of his other contacts on the island, Premier Erdogan also visited the headquarters of Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces Command, and attended official receptions and dinners hosted in his honor by the TRNC authorities.

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign minister Turgay Avcý issued a message highlighting the significance of the 20th July Peace and Freedom Day.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avci in his message said that the Turkish Cypriot people has done all it could for a solution over the past 34 years since the peace operation and openly and repeatedly displayed its free will towards a lasting settlement on the island.

He said however that, the Greek Cypriot side, gaining strength from its unjust and one-sided EU membership, was continuing its efforts to prevent a solution to the Cyprus Problem and impose international isolation on the Turkish Cypriot people.

Stating that the Turkish Peace Operation was realized to prevent Enosis, Avcý said through Turkey’s intervention the lives of both the Turkish Cypriots’ and Greek Cypriots’ were saved.

He said “we once more proudly mark the 20^th July Peace and Freedom Day and will never forget the bitter experiences of the past. While we look to the future with full faith we are determined to further develop and strengthen the TRNC which was established through great sacrifices.”