Ankara, Turkey. Turkey’s foreign ministry said on Monday that its actions in Cyprus 52 years ago were carried out under its rights and obligations under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. The ministry said the actions ensured the safety and continued presence of Turkish Cypriots on the island.
Turkey’s statement
In a message marking the anniversary of the arrival of Turkish troops in Cyprus, the ministry said Turkish Cypriots now live “in peace and security” under the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
It said Turkey would continue to protect the interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and work for Turkish Cypriots’ “sovereign equality and equal international status”.
The ministry also commemorated soldiers and freedom fighters who died during the events, describing them as martyrs, and said it was celebrating the anniversary of what it called the Cyprus peace operation.
International position
Turkey’s invocation of the Treaty of Guarantee is disputed. On July 29, 1974, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe acknowledged that Turkey had “exercised its right of intervention”.
However, the majority international view of Turkey’s actions had changed by mid-August that year. On August 16, 1974, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 360, recording its formal disapproval of “the unilateral military actions undertaken against the Republic of Cyprus”.
The resolution recognised the Republic of Cyprus as the government of Archbishop Makarios III and subsequently that of acting president Glafcos Clerides.
