President Ersin Tatar recently appeared on a BBC radio programme to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation. Hosted by James Copnall, the live broadcast provided a platform for President Tatar to highlight the significance of this milestone for the Turkish Cypriot community. He emphasised the importance of the term “peace” in the context of the operation, stating, “For us, this is an important anniversary because it was a Peace Operation. I want to underline the word ‘peace’. At a time when our people were being massacred by Greek-Cypriot forces, Turkey intervened as a guarantor power to protect the Turkish Cypriots who were on the brink of annihilation. This is a well-documented historical fact.”
According to information from the Presidency, Tatar elaborated on the island-wide attacks against the Turkish Cypriots, which were part of the Greek Cypriot ambition to unite Cyprus with Greece, known as ENOSIS. He recalled that this intention was openly declared by Archbishop Makarios at the time. Tatar stressed that the Turkish Cypriots, who had equal inherent rights as the co-founders of the Republic of Cyprus, were forcibly expelled from the republic.
Tatar recounted the destruction of the bicommunal republic established in 1960 by both Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Following this, Turkey was compelled to act as a guarantor to protect the Turkish Cypriots after the Greek Junta orchestrated a coup and declared the Hellenic Republic of Cyprus on 15 July 1974. President Tatar noted that Turkey’s intervention through the Cyprus Peace Operation halted the bloodshed and oppression on the island.
Highlighting Turkey’s role, Tatar stated, “Turkey came to protect the Turkish Cypriots,” and added that Turkey’s intervention aimed to bring peace not only to the Turkish Cypriots but also to the Greek Cypriots and the entire island.
Tatar pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot community celebrates this day with great enthusiasm both in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and around the world. He underscored the significant message that Turkey has always stood by the Turkish Cypriots.
Furthermore, President Tatar conveyed to the international audience that the Turkish Cypriots have historical rights in Cyprus, including the right to self-determination and to have their own state. He remarked, “The British, having two sovereign base areas in Cyprus, are well aware that we Turkish Cypriots have been governing ourselves as a state for over 60 years. The TRNC has a legal and moral foundation.”
President Tatar also reminded listeners that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected numerous plans supported by the United Nations and the international community. Despite the Turkish Cypriot side’s intensive efforts for more than half a century to find a solution, the reluctance of the internationally recognised and EU-member Greek Cypriot side to share the governance and resources of the island has prevented a resolution.
Tatar referenced comments by Jack Straw, the former UK Foreign Secretary during the Annan Plan period, who stated that allowing the Greek Cypriots to join the EU before a solution was reached was a “big mistake.” This assessment underscores the ongoing challenges in achieving a lasting solution to the Cyprus issue.
