The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been in the occupied territories since this morning for the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, having prepared a big fiesta with warships, F-16s and a large military parade.

During his speech in the pseudo-state the Turkish president proceeded in new provocative statements saying that Turkey is ready to negotiate to find a peaceful solution, but rejecting the solution of the federation, as reported by the correspondent of SKAI in Istanbul, Manolis Kostidis.

“Ignoring the realities on the island leads nowhere. We believe that the federal solution is not possible for her Cyprus”, he emphasized.

“We are ready for consultations, negotiations and to bring the solution to bring permanent peace to Cyprus. We never leave in the air any hand extended in the direction of peace. We have shown our goodwill throughout history” he added.

“We say if you want a solution, ratify the sovereign rights of the Turkish Cypriots. And I hope that we will see the days when the leaders of the guarantor countries will one day visit the two states on the island. I told this hope to the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself at our meeting at the NATO Summit in Washington. Strengthening the basis of the dialogue between Turkey and Greece will help to solve the Cyprus issue” Erdogan said.

The Turkish president referred to today’s anniversary by characterizing the invasion as “peace operation”.

“I am glad to be with you on the 50th anniversary of the peacekeeping operation,” he said adding: “I remember our heroic martyrs who gave their lives to keep the country alive. I remember Prime Minister Etcevit, who was its architect peacekeeping operation in Cyprus and other politicians. I also remember the Mehmetsiks (Turkish soldiers) and the Mujahideen (Turkish Cypriot fighters) whose blood mingled with theirs.”

Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said he remembers “with gratitude to our heroic martyrs who died to keep the country alive.” As he said, “may the souls of the brave men who fell to the ground for our country, our flag, our independence and our future rest in peace. I kiss the hands of our veterans who fought bravely for the existence, rights and freedom of the Turkish Cypriots and express my gratitude to each and every one of them. I pray to God for a healthy, wholesome and fruitful life.”

Erdogan attacked the Republic of Cyprus, saying that “in the southern part of the island there is a broken administration” with a spoiled logic.

“In the southern part of the island there is a spoiled logic and they consider themselves the rulers of the island. We are faced with such a situation where the Greek Cypriot leader participates in the memorial ceremonies of the EOKA terroristsour brothers the Turkish Cypriots are attacked when they travel to the South, they are imprisoned and mosques are set on fire” said the Turkish president.

He also launched spikes at of Defense Minister Nikos Dendias. “Recently, the Greek Minister of Defense made absurd statements. We recently met with Mr. Mitsotakis and I told him: “We will be in North Cyprus on July 20 and you will be in the South, I guess you won’t bother us from there.” He said he won’t. Extremely irresponsible steps are being taken. You can’t wash yourself twice with the same water.”

The Turkish president arrived before 10 am and was greeted by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tarar.

Shortly before his speech, Erdogan visited the Atatürk monument in the occupied part of Nicosia, where he laid a wreath.

Fiesta Erdogan

The streets in the occupied territories have been filled for days with posters of the Turkish president accompanied by inscriptions such as: “Motherland Turkey is the permanent guarantee of the existence and well-being of the Turkish Cypriots”.

Turkey is preparing an unprecedented fiesta, today as 50 ships along with the aircraft carrier Anatolus will be off Cyprus. Drones have also landed in the area and F-16s will also fly.

In fact, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, in the context of the 50th anniversary of the Peace Operation in Cyprus, prepared a documentary in which it refers to the terrorist attacks of the Greek far-right organization EOKA B and the large massacres that took place against the Turkish Cypriots, under the pretext that they invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974 to save the Turkish Cypriots.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Cyprus in the afternoon

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will pay a highly symbolic visit to Cyprus this Saturday as it marks 50 years since the invasion of Attila. At 20:30 Kyriakos Mitsotakis will attend and speak at the commemoration event organized by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, at the Presidential Palace Mansion in Nicosia.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be the first Greek Prime Minister to attend these commemorative events.

He will initially have a private meeting with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, at 19:45.

The prime minister, who has repeatedly stated that he wishes to restart the talks on Cyprus, is expected to proceed with a historical review of the days of July 1974 that hurt Hellenism and bloodied and divided Cyprus, but also to ask for a fair solution always based on the resolutions and the decisions of the UN by inviting the two sides to sit at the dialogue table.

In absolute coordination, Athens and Nicosia have launched a campaign to internationalize the Cypriot state, stressing that in 2024, an EU member country cannot be under occupation but also divided.

The Prime Minister in Cyprus will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis, the government representative Pavlos Marinakis, his diplomatic advisor Anna Maria Boura and the international policy and media advisor Aristotelia Peloni. Earlier, in the morning in Athens, a high-priestly memorial service will take place in the Metropolis of Athens, with the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou and the Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas, among others, present. Ms. Sakellaropoulou will then lay a wreath at the monument of the Unknown Soldier.