House condemns 1974 coup, reiterates decisiveness to pursue justice for Cyprus

The House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus denounced Sunday the July 15, 1974 coup d’ Etat and the subsequent Turkish invasion that led to the island’s division, with its members reiterating their decisiveness to pursue the fight for justice.

 

During a special session, attended by the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and chaired by House President Demetris Syllouris, MPs held a minute of silence to honor those fallen while defending democracy and freedom in Cyprus.

 

Addressing the House plenary, Syllouris said that the goal is to reach a fair and viable settlement in Cyprus, based on UN Security Council resolutions, the principles of international law and the EU acquis.

 

The House, he went on, condemns the twin crime committed 44 years ago in Cyprus against its people, the treacherous coup that targeted the legal government of the Republic of Cyprus and the subsequent Turkish invasion five days later, on July 20, 1974.

 

We still live with the disastrous consequences of this tragedy and will continue to do so as long as Turkey occupies Cyprus and there are missing persons, refugees and enclaved people, he said.

 

The President of the House also paid tribute to those who lost their lives while defending democracy, freedom, constitutional order and the territory of Cyprus, to the relatives of the missing persons, to the enclaved and to the refugees dispersed throughout Cyprus.

 

He also underlined the decisiveness of the House of Representatives to continue the fight for justice and demanded more active involvement on the part of the EU, in order to exert pressure on Ankara for a Cyprus settlement.

 

Party leaders and representatives also took the floor, condemning the 1974 coup d’ Etat and the Turkish invasion, while making references to the forthcoming visit of the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy for consultations, ahead of a possible resumption of settlement talks.

 

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. A UN-backed Conference on Cyprus last summer in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana, aiming to reunify the island under a federal roof, ended inconclusively.