Allow me to welcome you all here at the Cyprus House in London to the opening of the exhibition “50 Years of Turkish Invasion and Occupation”. The month July was always a grim month for Cyprus. Most of our worse catastrophes tend to happen such a month. Today this exhibition serves as a sad reminder of a half-century of enduring consequences, a period that continues to cast a long shadow over the lives of all Cypriots both in Cyprus and abroad. Fifty years have passed since the tragic events of 1974, yet the pain and suffering remain as real today as they were then.
The President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides articulated it profoundly, during the opening of this same exhibition in Cyprus: “The grief is profound and the pain cannot be described every time our memory recalls the tragic events of 1974; the Turkish invasion, the unwavering milestone for every Cypriot citizen, who, 50 years later, still bears the inflicted trauma of the unspeakable tragedy of the Turkish invasion and the ongoing occupation.” These words resonate deeply with all of us who carry the memories of that tragic summer, a period that irreversibly stigmatized the course of the history of our country and of our people.
The invasion by Turkey on July 20, 1974, following the coup d’état of July 15 against the legitimate government of Archbishop Makarios, led to the occupation of 37% of the island’s territory. This illegal act of war resulted in the ethnic cleansing of most of the Greek Cypriots from their homes in the now occupied areas, leaving thousands dead and many missing. The exhibition we are inaugurating today is a physical reminder of the continued occupation and a testament to our collective resilience and longing for reunification.
Today, as we stand here under the roof of the Cyprus House, far away from the barbed wire that scars the whole of Cyprus from one corner to the other, we reaffirm our unwavering stance: we do not accept the occupation. The current status quo cannot define the future of our homeland. We remain resolute in our efforts to reverse the consequences of 1974. Our commitment to achieving a comprehensive and just solution to the Cyprus problem remains unwavering, based on the agreed UN framework Bizonal Bicommunal Federation and the core values of the European Union.
This exhibition is more than a mere display of photographs. It is a mosaic of our collective memory, a visual narrative that captures the profound sorrow and resilience of our people. The images presented here are authentic testimonies of the era, depicting the anguish and determination on the faces of countless Cypriots. These are not anonymous figures; they are our parents, grandparents, distant relatives, neighbors, compatriots —individuals who, despite enduring unimaginable hardships, demonstrated remarkable resilience, rebuilding their lives from the ashes with dignity and fortitude.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This exhibition should not be treated as just a commemoration; it should also be a call to action. It should remind us of the importance of national unity, and continued effort towards achieving a just resolution for Cyprus. As we reflect on the past, let us also renew our commitment to the future—one where Cyprus is reunited, free of guarantors, independent, peaceful and prosperous.
Thank you for your presence today and for your steadfast support. Together, we should continue to strive for justice, freedom, and the reunification of our beloved Cyprus.
