Lefkosa/Anadolu

Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu:

- Turkish Cypriots will not give up Turkey's right to intervene in Cyprus

- The European Union cannot be a neutral party in the Cyprus issue

- Our policy is based on the principle of two sovereignly equal and internationally equal states

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu said that Turkey is the only guarantor that has fulfilled its obligations in the Cyprus issue.

In a statement to Anadolu on the 52nd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, Ertugruloglu stressed that Turkish Cypriots will not give up Turkey's right to intervene in Cyprus.

He added that negotiations regarding Cyprus have continued for more than 60 years without success.

Ertugruloglu pointed out that the UN granting the Greek Cypriot side the status of 'Republic of Cyprus' formed the basis of the problem.

He considered that the European Union repeated the same mistake in 2004 when it accepted the membership of Greek Cyprus.

Ertugruloglu affirmed that the European Union cannot be a neutral party in the Cyprus issue as long as it treats it as if there is a 'Turkish occupation' on the island.

He stressed that a solution cannot be reached unless Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are given equal status.

Ertugruloglu explained that the foreign policy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is based on the principle of two sovereignly equal and internationally equal states.

He touched on the issue of the guarantor states, saying that Britain and Greece have not fulfilled their duties as guarantor states throughout history, while Turkey was the only state that has fulfilled its obligations.

Ertugruloglu stated that the Cyprus crisis began in 1963, and that portraying the Turkish intervention on July 20, 1974 as if it happened without cause contradicts historical facts.

He explained that the intervention of the Turkish Armed Forces in 1974 saved Turkish Cypriots from the danger of genocide.

Ertugruloglu concluded by emphasizing that the Turkish army is a deterrent force, not an aggressive force, and that Turkish Cypriots will not experience the tragedies they witnessed in the past again as long as Turkey exists.

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

On July 20, 1974, Turkey launched the 'Peace Operation' on the island after it witnessed 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 population of 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 Denktas was elected as president of what later became known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.