Lefkosa/Anadolu

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Tufan Erhürman said Monday that Turkish Cypriots have always been an integral part of the island of Cyprus and will never accept the disregard of their existence.

He made the remarks during a ceremony to mark the 52nd anniversary of the military 'Peace Operation' carried out by Turkey on the island of Cyprus and the celebration of 'Peace and Freedom Day' in the capital Lefkosa.

Erhürman stated that some parties promote a narrative that the Cyprus issue began on July 20, 1974.

He emphasized that the island's history also includes events between 1963 and 1974, as well as the July 15, 1974 coup carried out by the Greek Cypriot military junta aiming to annex Cyprus to Greece.

He added that the Peace Operation carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces, in cooperation with Turkish Cypriot resistance members, prevented further tragedies, not only for Turkish Cypriots but also for Greek Cypriots whom the coup plotters considered 'traitors'.

- 'We will not give up our rights'

Erhürman stressed that Turkish Cypriots have maintained their will to reach a solution to the Cyprus issue despite all they have been through, noting that this will was clearly evident in the 2004 Annan Plan referendum and the 2017 Crans-Montana talks.

In 2004, Greek Cypriots rejected a United Nations plan to reunify the island, and no formal UN-mediated negotiations have taken place to resolve the conflict since the collapse of the Cyprus reunification talks in Switzerland in July 2017.

Erhürman added that they adopt the motto of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, 'Peace at home, peace in the world,' explaining that the Turkish Cypriot people, who have suffered the horrors of war and sacrificed martyrs, know well the meaning of war and conflict.

Erhürman stressed that Turkish Cypriots have always been present on the island and will not accept being ignored, saying: 'This people is one of the authentic components of the island, an equal partner in its ownership, not a minority, never has been, and never will be.'

He affirmed that they will not give up their rights on the island, nor the principles of equality and security, calling for recognition of historical facts.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus celebrates '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 that date, Turkey launched the 'Peace Operation' on the island following a military coup against Cypriot President Makarios III on the 15th of the same month.

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

The Turkish army launched a second military operation on August 14, 1974, and both operations achieved their objectives. 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 the country, which later became known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.