The President of the Republic has called for moderate political speech, dialogue and national unity to help reach a political settlement that would reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

In a written statement, issued here today by the Presidency, to mark the anniversary of the military coup in Athens on April 21, 1967, President Anastasiades notes that it has been half a century since the dark day of the overthrow of democracy in Greece with the coup d`état of 21 April 1967.

Unfortunately, he added, the sad conclusion of the seven-year dictatorship in Greece was the coup d`état in Cyprus which led to the Turkish invasion and occupation.

These sad pages of history call for lessons on how to avoid such criminal activities that provide pretexts for actions against the nation, he points out, adding that “they also teach us that respect for democratic principles and values ​​can prevent such unpleasant situations.”

“It is only through moderate political speech, dialogue and national unity that we can create the conditions to overturn the faits accomplis caused to our country by the twin crime of the coup and the invasion so that united we achieve our goal for a just, viable and peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem,” the President concludes.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. The invasion followed a Greek junta backed coup against the then President of Cyprus, the late Archbishop Makarios. UN-backed talks, currently underway, aim to reunite the island under a federal roof.