Eoka statements by Nicos Anastasiades condemned
THE TRNC Foreign Ministry has “strongly condemned” a statement by Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades praising the terrorist organisation Eoka on the 67th anniversary of its establishment.
Last Friday, April 1, Greek Cypriots commemorated the 1955 date, which they regard as the start of a “liberation” campaign to end British rule on the island, with the ultimate goal of “Enosis” – the unification of Cyprus with Greece.
The latter aim was never achieved after Turkey intervened in July 1974 following a failed Greek-led coup to annex Cyprus.
Mr Anastasiades said during a ceremony last Friday that April 1 is an opportunity to “remember with gratitude the freedom fighters, the ordinary peasants, workers, the Church and the two great leaders of the struggle” who brought “freedom” to the people of Cyprus.
His comments were blasted by the Foreign Ministry, which said in a statement that Eoka had been formed to “achieve Enosis by eradicating the Turkish presence on the island and annexing it to Greece”.
The statement continued: “The Eoka terrorist organisation, which was responsible for atrocities and massacres against the Turkish Cypriot people, is in the dark pages of history.
“The mentality praising the Greek Cypriot terrorist organisation is another proof of the continuation of racism and hatred towards the Turks in the Greek Cypriot side.
“Mr Anastasiades, who claims that [Eoka] fought ‘heroically’ for the so-called ‘freedom and independence’, opts to conceal the facts from the new generation instead of facing history.”
The statement added that the “main reason” for the lack of an agreement on the island until today is the “mentality” that has been prevailing on the Greek Cypriot side “for years”.
It said this shows that the “most realistic” solution model is one that involves “the two peoples of the island living in their own respective territories and under their own states, with good neighbourly relations”.
ERSİN TATAR
President Ersin Tatar also commented on the anniversary, saying the “mentality of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo still has not changed” and that the Greek Cypriot side continues to “chase after fantasy dreams”.
“Although the Eoka terrorist organisation first targeted the British, it soon also started attacking the Turkish Cypriot people,” Mr Tatar said.
“During the 1955-1958 period, while Turkish quarters in cities, towns and villages, and our holy and religious places were attacked, our defenceless citizens were also massacred by Eoka.
“The Turkish Cypriot Resistance Organisation (TMT) was established to defend, organise and protect the Turkish Cypriot people against these attacks and it
was due to the resistance of the TMT that Turkish Cypriots are equal co-founding partners in the Republic of Cyprus.”
Mr Tatar said that the Greek Cypriots at the time saw the creation of the Republic of Cyprus as merely a “springboard” to achieving Enosis.
“The Greek Cypriot leadership launched the ‘Bloody Christmas’ attacks on December 21, 1963, in line with the Akritas Plan,” Mr Tatar said.
“The goal was again to annihilate the Turkish Cypriot people and make Cyprus a Hellenic island.
“While the Republic of Cyprus was transformed into a Greek Cypriot state by force of arms, hundreds of Turkish Cypriot villages were attacked during the 19631974 period, thousands of Turkish Cypriots were forced to migrate, and our people were subjected to genocide.
“Those responsible for these massacres and atrocities are the Greek Cypriot leadership and Greece, which formed and supported the Eoka terrorist organisation.”
Referring to the coup carried out by the Greek junta with its “collaborators
in Cyprus and Eoka” on July 15, 1974, Mr Tatar continued: “If Motherland Turkey had not carried out the Peace Operation on the morning of July 20, 1974, not a single Turk would have been left alive in Cyprus.
“In the face of all these facts, the statements made by the President of the Greek Cypriot Administration, Nicos Anastasiades, and the Greek leaders on the anniversary of the Greek uprising and the Eoka terrorist organisation’s armed actions are quite remarkable.
“Mr Anastasiades, by declaring that he is ‘inspired by the Eoka struggle’ and the chanting of slogans such as ‘Cyprus is the island of Hellenes, Turks out’ during the ceremonies show that the Greek Cypriot mentality has not changed.
“Furthermore, we note the unfortunate statements such as ‘there can be no solution without the Turkish military leaving Cyprus and Turkey’s guarantee being lifted’.
“While our calls to the Greek Cypriot side for dialogue regarding the Cyprus issue with all our goodwill and sincerity continue, it is unacceptable that the Greek Cypriot leadership pursues the dreams
of the Eoka terrorist organisation . . . and makes statements that create tension and hostility.”
Mr Tatar also said that the “events in Ukraine show once again how necessary and vital the Turkish military presence and Turkey’s guarantorship are for the Turkish Cypriot people”.
He added: “It is impossible for us to give up Turkey’s guarantee and the Turkish military. Just as we will never return to the dark days of pre-1974, we cannot and will not leave our people at the mercy of terrorist organisations like Eoka.”
FUAT OKTAY
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, who is responsible for Cyprus affairs, wrote on Twitter that he “cursed” the “terrorist organisation Eoka” for starting a “period full of pain” 67 years ago with the “guns in their hands and the evil in their hearts”.
He commemorated “our heroic martyrs with mercy” and stated that Turkey will “as in the past, stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder with the Turkish Cypriots against those with a dark mentality”.