Lefkoşa / Anadolu

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Monday celebrated the 52nd anniversary of the military 'Peace Operation' and 'Peace and Freedom Day', which falls on July 20 each year.

The ceremony at the Atatürk Monument in the capital Lefkoşa was attended by Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhürman and Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz.

Also present were Speaker of the Assembly of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ziya Öztürkler, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, ministers from both countries, and a large number of citizens.

The ceremony began with a moment of silence and the playing of the national anthem, followed by the laying of wreaths at the Atatürk Monument.

It concluded with Erhürman and Yılmaz signing the monument's special book.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus celebrates 'Peace and Freedom Day' on July 20 each year, marking the start 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 following a military coup against Cypriot President Makarios III on July 15 of the same month.

The coup was supported by the then-ruling military junta in Greece, while Greek Cypriot armed groups targeted the Turkish inhabitants of the island.

The Turkish army launched a second military operation on August 14, 1974; both operations achieved 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, with the late Rauf Denktaş elected as president of what later became known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.