Europe’s “ghost town”: What Turkey has done to Cyprus – New Europe

Turkey has used two main pretexts for invading the island. The first one is the coup engineered by the Greek junta, which toppled the democratically-elected Cypriot president, Archbishop Makarios III. The coup collapsed a few days later and democratic rule in Cyprus was re-established. Hence, there was no actual need for Turkey to intervene. A second excuse was that Turkey “aimed at protecting Turkish Cypriots” from Greek Cypriot violence. But even Turkish officials have confessed that the violence was mostly committed by Turks to pave the way for a military invasion.

General Sabri Yirmibesoglu, a Turkish army officer, for example, said in 2010 that Turkey had burned a ‎mosque during the Cyprus conflict “in order to foster civil resistance” against Greek Cypriots. He also said that “the Turkish special warfare department has a rule to engage in acts of sabotage against the respected values [of the Turks] made to look as if they ‎were carried out by the enemy.”

Today Turkey still shockingly calls the atrocities it committed in 1974 “a peace operation.”

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Akıncı says decision to reopen Varosha was hidden from him, calls it ‘Ankara’s interference in elections’ – Duvar English

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı, who is running against Prime Minister Ersin Tatar in the upcoming elections, has said that he was not previously informed about the government’s decision to open Varosha beach. Akıncı strongly criticized the announcement delivered from the Turkish capital Ankara, calling it a “shame for our democracy” and “interference in our

Akıncı says decision to reopen Varosha was hidden from him, calls it ‘Ankara’s interference in elections’ – Duvar English Read More »

Turkey Pressed by EU to Halt Reopening of Cypriot Ghost Town – Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) — The European Union urged Turkey to halt the reopening of a ghost town in the Turkish-controlled part of Cyprus, saying the move would worsen ties already strained by Ankara’s energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean. EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said the Turkish plan for Varosha, near the port of Famagusta, would mark

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UN concerned at Turkish move to open up Cypriot beach – SFChronicle.com

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern Tuesday over Turkey’s decision to open to the public a beach in Cyprus that has been closed since war divided the island 46 years ago. He warned against “unilateral actions” that could heighten tensions and undermine chances for a resumption of peace talks. Guterres’ spokesman,

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