Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday marked the 52nd anniversary of Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus, reaffirming Greece’s support for the Republic of Cyprus and calling for a reunified island free of foreign troops and outdated security arrangements.
In a statement posted on social media, Mitsotakis said the anniversary represents “an open wound” for Cyprus and the wider Hellenic world, pointing to the island’s continued division, the displacement of thousands of people and the unresolved issue of missing persons.
“Fifty-two years later, we honor the heroes who defended freedom and refused to accept the consequences of violence and the use of force,” Mitsotakis wrote. “Greece stands unwaveringly by the side of the Republic of Cyprus.”
He said Athens remains committed to international law and United Nations resolutions aimed at achieving “a fair, viable and sustainable settlement” of the Cyprus issue.
Mitsotakis also welcomed the ongoing initiative by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to revive negotiations, saying any solution must be based on the agreed UN framework and European Union principles.
