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AHEPA Remembers 35th “Black Anniversary” of Invasion, Occupation of Cyprus

by | Jul 21, 2009 | Αναλύσεις

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Supreme President Calls for Removal of Turkish Troops from Cyprus

WASHINGTON – Supreme President Nicholas A. Karacostas issued the following statement on the 35th anniversary of the invasion and illegal occupation of Cyprus that occurred July 20, 1974:

"Today marks a solemn day as we observe the 35th anniversary of the illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus by the Republic of Turkey. This was, and remains to this very day, an intolerable act; one that is a gross violation of the rule of law, human rights, and democratic ideals. We pause to remember the innocent civilians who lost their lives and thousands who went missing, including four American citizens whose investigations remain incomplete. The illegal invasion and occupation caused the displacement of nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees, including my family, who to this day are unable to return to their homes which is also a violation of human rights as determined by the European Commission on Human Rights.

"Today, the ongoing direct talks between Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, under the scope of the high-level UN Agreement of July 8, 2006, provide us with encouragement that a settlement can be reached to reunify Cyprus. We restate our call for the reunification of Cyprus, and its people, in a bicommunal and bizonal federation with a single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising two politically equal communities as described in the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. We contend that such a solution is in the best interest of all Cypriots, and must emanate from Cypriots themselves.

"However, ultimately the key to a successful settlement rests in Ankara. We call on the U.S. government to convey a strong message to Turkey that it must provide the Turkish Cypriot community with the necessary freedom to negotiate a solution within the July 8 framework, and equally as important, facilitate the removal of 43,000 of its troops from the island.

"Therefore, on this "black anniversary" we call on Turkey to begin the removal of its 43,000 troops from Cyprus. These are troops that we contend, as American citizens, would serve a better purpose, especially to NATO, in another theatre such as Afghanistan as opposed to Cyprus where there have been 15 million incident-free crossings by Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

"We call for these actions in the best interests of the United States. A reunified Cyprus into a bizonal, bicommunal federation will strengthen the eastern Mediterranean and bring peace to the region. Furthermore, it will aid Turkey's candidacy to become a member of the European Union.

"Our hope is that we will no longer need to observe this "black anniversary," but instead, celebrate the anniversary of a settlement. AHEPA remains committed to doing all within its power to keep the Cyprus issue in the public eye until a just and viable solution is realized."

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