The villagers of Alaminyo who were brutally massacred by EOKA-B militants 48 years ago during the July 20, 1974, Turkish Peace Operation were remembered on Thursday with a ceremony held at the Alaminyo Martyrs Monument in Değirmenlik village.

President Ersin Tatar was amongst those who attended the ceremony

Children and women between the ages of 6 and 80 were killed by EOKA-B terrorists as Turkish troops advanced to liberate Turkish Cypriot villages during the peace operation.

Wreaths were laid, and a minute of silence was observed followed by the firing of shots in tribute to those who were killed.

Flags were hoisted to the national anthem and a recital of poems by students from the Değirmenlik High School.

Speeches were also delivered by the Mayor of Değirmenlik Ali Karaveziler and President Ersin Tatar.

Speaking during the ceremony, President Ersin Tatar said that innocent civilians had been indiscriminately slain by the treacherous EOKA terrorists who were on the retreat as Turkish forces advanced.

He added that the Turkish Cypriot peoples’ struggle for freedom, independence and sovereignty continued with the support of motherland Türkiye.

Tatar pointed out that the Greek junta which had seized power in the coup it carried out on July 15, 1974 had made plans to bury Turkish Cypriots in mass graves which had been prevented thanks to Türkiye’s timely intervention and arrival on the island on July 20, 1974.

“However massacres were still carried out in villages and areas the advancing Turkish forces could not reach. Similar massacres had been carried out in the past. Five of our brothers were killed in Alaminyo in 1967,” he added.

Touching upon efforts to solve the Cyprus Problem, President Ersin Tatar said that a federal solution was not the answer to the search for a lasting settlement in Cyprus.

He pointed out that such a settlement would mean the withdrawal of all Turkish troops from the island as well as the end to the system of guarantees, all of which was unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriot people.

Tatar explained that what was going on in Ukraine at the moment was proof that such atrocities and conflict could still take place in this day and age, even in the heart of Europe.

“Should we fail to persuade the international community to accept our sovereignty, dangerous processes await us,” he warned, adding that the most feasible and viable solution that could be reached in Cyprus was a two-state solution whereby the two states could cooperate with each other.

“A settlement in Cyprus can only be possible on the basis of sovereign equality. This is something with even the highest officials of the Turkish Republic are voicing,” he added.

Tatar concluded his speech by stating that the families of the martyrs still felt the pain of their loss despite the fact it has almost been half a century.

“What went on in Cyprus is a human tragedy and it is not possible to forget the suffering, brutality and horrors inflicted on the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said.

Meanwhile, the martyrs of Topçuköy will be remembered at a ceremony at the Topçuköy Martyrs cemetery at 6:30 this evening.