Fifty-two years since the betrayal

Opinion 1974cyprusCyprus problemeokaGreeceturkey Fifty-two years since the betrayal Ce 91 Cf 80 Cf 8c Cf 84 Ce Bf Cf 80 Cf 81 Ce B1 Ce Be Ce B9 Ce Ba Cf 8c Cf 80 Ce B7 Ce Bc Ce B1 Id 1513993 Relevant News Fifty-two years since the betrayal 15 July 2026 “Finish it off, they’re pressuring us from the outside” 15 July 2026 They watched hell coming and shut their eyes 15 July 2026 Phileleftheros Editorial 15 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Fifty-two years ago today, the junta of the Colonels and their agents in Cyprus, EOKA B, staged their treacherous coup. We are still living with the fallout of that crime today. The coup to topple President Makarios on 15 July 1974 opened the door to Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus, and a significant part of our country has been under occupation ever since. Historical research has proven that, in 1974, there was a plan against our homeland: to carve it up and seize total control. The Republic of Cyprus was undermined from day one. It came under attack. It was targeted, both from within and from without. Methodically, systematically, from the very earliest days of its founding, the state was marked for destruction. Then, once the dictatorship was imposed in Greece, it became clear there was collusion between the United States, Turkey and the Greek junta, all of it aimed at Cyprus. It is clear, from everything that unfolded at the time and with reference to classified documents, that Turkey was expecting the coup and preparing for invasion. Turkey had been waiting for the signal to invade for some time. It was never going to pass up the “opportunity” handed to it by Greek-speakers through their coup against the legitimate, democratically elected leadership of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkish preparations, the military exercises, began early, in the first months of 1974. It is no coincidence that, in that same period, in Athens, the junta was preparing its own coup to topple President Makarios. The anniversary of this treacherous coup is a moment to evaluate. On 15 July 1974, fifty-two years ago, the greatest betrayal ever committed against our homeland took place. The coup unleashed the greatest catastrophe. That is a fact, and no one can dispute it. This is a documented, settled matter, not a question of opinion, perspective or philosophy. It is not up for debate. There is no need to look for blame anywhere else: it lies squarely with the guilty. On this day, every year, 15 July, all we can feel is grief and outrage at the treachery and the ruin it caused. But that does not mean we accept the consequences of it. Coup and invasion: the twin crimes against Cyprus. A crime that set out to split the island in two. The best answer is to overturn the facts of occupation, and to work towards restoring the unity of the Republic of Cyprus, and its liberation. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News “Finish it off, they’re pressuring us from the outside” They watched hell coming and shut their eyes The fragile state of the Iran-US negotiations When grief becomes clickbait: Why Cyprus needs legal boundaries on death reporting EU countries back ‘full ban” on Israeli settler imports, the only obstacle is unanimity Game of Thrones actor Clive Russel to attend Cyprus Comic Con Cyprus Met Office issues yellow warning for extreme heat Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.