Ankara / Anadolu Agency

Turkey said it will continue to protect the interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and work with all its means to recognize the inherent right of Turkish Cypriots to sovereign equality and international status.

This was stated in a statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Turkish social media platform "X" on Monday, on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation.

The ministry added that the Turkish Cypriot people today live under the umbrella of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in security and peace.

It also commemorated the Turkish soldiers and Turkish Cypriot fighters who lost their lives during the operation.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus celebrates "Peace and Freedom Day" on July 20 of each year, marking the anniversary of the launch of the military "Peace Operation" carried out by Turkey on the island in 1974.

On that date, Turkey launched the "Peace Operation" on the island after a military coup led by Nikos Sampson against Cypriot President Makarios III on the 15th of the same month.

The coup was carried out with the support of the ruling military junta in Greece, while Greek Cypriot armed groups targeted the Turkish Cypriot population on the island.

The Turkish army launched a second military operation on August 14, 1974, and both operations succeeded in achieving their objectives, and a prisoner exchange agreement was signed between the two sides on September 16 of the same year.

On February 13, 1975, the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus" was established in the northern part of the island, and the late Rauf Denktaş was elected president of what later became known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.