Events for the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation in Aydın

In Aydın, the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, which ensured the freedom and security of Turkish Cypriots, was celebrated with a ceremony.

This significant day, marking half a century since Turkey’s intervention in Cyprus on July 20, 1974, following the coup supported by Greece, was commemorated with events held in the Efeler district of Aydın as part of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s July 20 Peace and Freedom Day. The events began with the Aydın Martyrs’ Families and Veterans Solidarity Association laying a wreath at the Atatürk Monument in Atatürk City Square. After a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, Association President İsmail Ece delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of the operation. President Ece stated that despite 50 years having passed since the July 20 Cyprus Peace Operation, they remember those days as if they were yesterday, and expressed that they landed in Cyprus as Cyprus Veterans, fighting to rescue their Cypriot compatriots from Greek oppression and tyranny. Ece said, “We were advancing fearlessly amidst air and automatic weapon fire with the goal of either becoming a veteran or a martyr. The landing and drop-off locations were open target areas. Despite the cordons the Greeks had established in the Five Finger Mountains for years, we destroyed and took all the targets.”

“The TRNC exists thanks to the Turkish military”

Ece noted that 498 Turkish soldiers were martyred during the Cyprus Peace Operation, saying, “If today the TRNC exists, it is due to the great heroism of our 498 martyrs, along with the Turkish soldiers and veterans like us. The operation was carried out in two phases on July 20-22, 1974, and August 14-16, 1974. We commemorate our 498 martyrs and all martyrs with mercy, and I wish healthy and happy lives to our living veterans,” he stated.

After President Ece’s speech, many veterans and relatives of martyrs participating in the event took commemorative photos in front of the Atatürk Monument, while in front of the Aydın Martyrs’ Families and Veterans Solidarity Association building, lokma (a sweet pastry) was distributed to citizens in memory of the Cyprus martyrs.