President Ersin Tatar on Thursday described the 1974 Turkish military Operation as a great tactical success, one taught in various military academies around the world.

Tatar who received the Deputy Governor of Van Murat Yayabaşı and the Cyprus war veterans said that the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo wanted to drag Turkish Cypriots down a dangerous path through pressure and games.

Speaking during the visit, President Tatar stated that the 20 July 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation was a turning point, and that not a single Turk would have been left in Cyprus had the peace operation not taken place.

“There would be no Turkish state left in the Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus would have turned into a Greek island. With the instruction of the leaders of the Republic of Türkiye at that time, the heroic Turkish Armed Forces landed on the island. The Cyprus Peace Operation is an important historic military operation not only in Cyprus but also in World history, taught in various military academies. The Turkish forces, together with the Turkish Cypriot resistance fighters made history on 20 July, 1974,” he said.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans. Your place in the hearts of the Turkish Cypriot people is exceptional,” the president said, highlighting the importance of preserving Turkish presence in Cyprus.

“Until now, they wanted to put us in a dangerous process with international pressure and games. We will not fall for the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo’s tricks. The upright stance of the Republic of Türkiye has foiled all these plans,” President Tatar added.