President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that if it is required, the Turkish army will not hesitate to take the same steps as taken 45 years ago.
Erdoğan sent a message to President Mustafa Akıncı on the occasion of the 20th July Peace and Freedom Day. In his message, Erdoğan expressed “Turkey carried out the Peace Operation in Cyprus to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people who are the co-owner of the Island of Cyprus. The whole world sees our determination on this issue. Everyone must be aware that the Turkish army will not hesitate to take the same steps as taken 45 years ago”.
Stressing that the Peace Operation took place on 20th July 1974 in accordance with the international law when all ways of diplomacy were abandoned, Erdoğan expressed that a solution is possible in Cyprus when the political equality and security of the Turkish Cypriot people are under guarantee. “Turkey will continue to guarantee the prosperity, security and future of the Turkish Cypriots. Those who consider that the Island of Cyprus belongs only to the Greek Cypriots will see the determination of Turkey and the TRNC” Erdoğan added.
…sadly, i remember who died in ’74. Not “Greeks”, not “Turks”, because they were never really fighting each other, but those not “them”, ordinary people and Cypriots.