Greece and Turkey marked the 51st anniversary of Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus, an event that split the island and remains a source of tension between NATO allies. On Sunday, air raid sirens sounded in southern Cyprus as Greek Cypriots commemorated more than 3,000 people who died in the invasion.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was set to attend celebrations in north Cyprus, a breakaway state recognized only by Ankara. However, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides refused to attend, calling celebrations in the north “shameful” and vowing not to forget the island’s fallen.
Efforts to reunify Cyprus have repeatedly failed due to deep-rooted mistrust and competing visions for the island’s future. Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said the invasion brought “peace and tranquility,” but critics argue that it drove tens of thousands of Greek Cypriots from their homes.
The conflict complicates Turkey’s bid to strengthen ties with the European Union, which both Cyprus and Greece are members of. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that talks on trust-building measures will continue, but progress remains elusive.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/greeks-mourn-turks-celebrate-anniversary-invasion-that-split-cyprus-2025-07-20