Turkey criticises European Parliament-backed memorial plan for 1974 rape victims
Turkey’s foreign ministry criticised a European Parliament committee’s approval of a proposal to fund a memorial for victims of rape during the 1974 invasion of Cyprus.
Ankara, Turkey. Turkey’s foreign ministry sharply criticised plans approved by a European Parliament committee for a memorial to victims of rape during the 1974 invasion of Cyprus, saying the proposal “slandered” the Turkish armed forces.
Turkish ministry response
In a statement issued late on Thursday, the ministry said the 1974 Cyprus “peace operation” had prevented the “extermination” of Turkish Cypriots and brought peace to the island for more than half a century.
It accused the European Union of further undermining trust between the two communities and of siding with Greek Cypriots, describing the bloc as a tool for Greek Cypriot “propaganda”.
The ministry called on EU officials not to become instruments of those seeking to distance Turkiye from the EU.
European Parliament committee vote
The European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) on Tuesday approved an amendment seeking European Commission funding for a monument commemorating victims of rape during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
The amendment was submitted by Disy MEP Loukas Fourlas in his role as the European People’s Party shadow rapporteur for the FEMM budget.
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