Mitsotakis speech on the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

The prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, sent a clear message to Ankara during his speech at the commemoration event marking the 50th anniversary of the coup and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

“Our position is clear, we do not accept fait accompli, our position is a sovereignty, a citizenship, in a bizonal bicommunal confederation without an occupation army. We believe that the Greek-Turkish approach also helps in the solution of the Cyprus issue, but the fact that we are discussing does not mean that we are in agreement and much more that we are not backing down”, explained the Prime Minister.

“I am here today deeply moved to say a couple of words. I do not forget. And let me add three more. We unite, we persist, we fight. By design and collaboration. And with unshakable faith, having this proud heart as our weapon, we face the 50 years of invasion and occupation”, stressed the Prime Minister.

He noted that the lessons of yesterday must become the priorities of today in a day that is not only a day of pain for those who perished and honor for those who fell but also the starting point of a new momentum for our national claims.

We return, he continued, to those moments when Greece and Cyprus paid so dearly, to the sworn coup plotters who paved the way for the great drama and at the same time we look forward so that the mistakes are not repeated.

Mr. Mitsotakis said that in this half century the island became a modern Republic, it stood up against the disastrous consequences of Attila and Nicosia kept alive the request for the reunification of the country.

Cyprus, he pointed out, with the help of Greece, became a member of the European family with its economy constantly growing.

“The wound is still bleeding. The north of the place is a prisoner of the occupation. The land of Aphrodite is still divided. We still have missing persons and refugees. It continues to challenge the only wall of our time that divides a European capital. It is a picture of the guilt of those who caused it. At the same time, a proof of tolerance of those who allow it to still be maintained. Tolerance that must not end in oblivion. We do not accept fait accompli and our pursuit remains one. Republic of Cyprus with one sovereignty, one international personality and one citizenship, in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, in a single state where all citizens will be both Cypriots and Europeans, without a foreign army of occupation, without anachronistic guarantees just as the resolutions of UN but also the respect for the European acquis”, stressed the Prime Minister.

Mr. Mitsotakis said that the two national poles are as united as ever and that Athens and Nicosia reject the bankrupt doctrine that stillness produces movement and do not accept the fact that each new year is the same or worse than the last.

“We believe that the Greek-Turkish approach also helps the Cypriot progress”, noted Mr. Mitsotakis and emphasized that he is honest with Ankara and in every direction. “The fact that we are discussing does not mean that we agree. Greece talks to everyone as a strong state in all fields. Economic, political, military, diplomatic”, he underlined.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis added that there is no other path that is shared by G.G. of the UN as found in their last meeting, the path of restarting the talks based on the proposals of the special envoy Ms. Holgin.

“After all, only those who are not right, those who do not have arguments, avoid dialogue and when they join challenges, then they burden the climate even more”, he pointed out.

He also said that he refers to a direction from which he cannot be absent as Cyprus is part of it and any threat against it becomes a danger for the European continent and for the entire Western world.

The prime minister underlined that a few days ago the president of the European Parliament R. Metsola explicitly spoke in favor of a united and free Cyprus, while the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, did the same today.

“50 years ago the beautiful waters of Kyrenia were defiled and its blue sky was covered by the gray airplanes of the invaders. Thus the golden-green sheet of the Mediterranean was trampled with a heavy price, with dead and missing. With Nicosia mutilated, with the imprisoned Famagusta still breathing heavily next to its ruins”, added the prime minister, speaking of a national trauma that hurts and will continue to hurt.

“We are here to fight and get justice. Projecting the Cypriot as an unacceptable example of invasion and occupation, which unfortunately even today finds authoritarian imitators as is the case in Ukraine. In the application of international law, double standards are not allowed. I am under no illusions but I believe that no battle is lost if it is not fought first. I have confidence in the law and confidence in our positions. There is always hope as long as what is done on the ground is not done in the heart of Hellenism,” Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized.

The prime minister then sent a message to Ankara. “Turkey should realize that its ambitions cannot be identified with black anniversaries and inflammatory statements that present Cyprus’ significant contribution to humanitarian aid to Gaza as an alleged danger to its security and we cannot ignore the general demand for bi-communal talks on the way to solving the Cyprus problem”, he added.

“Without missing the feeling, Athens and Nicosia we have to look at the situation today pragmatically”, he said and noted that “every solution requires brave and daring decisions” but also “not to distinguish those who fight and claim as more or less patriots as we are all on the same page and for the same purpose”.

The prime minister said that Greece and Cyprus continue their joint effort, with common ties, with a presence in the EU and in international forums, with coordination of actions.

Always, he said, Cyprus has the first say and Greece stands by its side as this is the choice of the Nation and history.

“Let me close not with another slogan but with a commitment. Hellenism will not stop fighting until Cyprus is reunited, until the wounds are healed and stability and peace return to the Megalonis and the wider region. Memory may hurt wherever you touch it, as Seferis wrote, but he was also sure that in Cyprus the miracle still works”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined.

Earlier, Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived at the Presidential Palace accompanied by his wife where he was received by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis.