Cyprus

2024 - 7 - 20

Cyprus: A Divided Island for 50 Years - Former Peacekeepers Reflect on War

50th anniversary - Cyprus - Greek Cypriots - Kyriakos Mitsotakis - Peacekeepers - Recep Tayyip Erdogan - Resilience - Turkish Cypriots - Turkish invasion

Canadian peacekeepers recall their frontline experience during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus 50 years ago. Will the talks resume? Turkish President Erdoğan dampens hopes for a peaceful resolution.

Cyprus has been a divided island for 50 years, with the Turkish invasion placing Canadian peacekeepers at the heart of a war between two nations and communities. The memories of former peacekeepers are resurfacing as the anniversary of the invasion approaches. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently dashed hopes for the resumption of talks on the ethnically split island, reaffirming his support for a two-state peace deal that Greek Cypriots have rejected. The South mourns while the North rejoices, showcasing the stark contrast in sentiments as Cyprus commemorates five decades of ethnic division.

As Turkey's President Erdogan and Cyprus' leader present conflicting views on the island's future, the struggle for a unified resolution continues. Meanwhile, Cyprus remains divided, with Turkish troops' invasion 50 years ago still deeply etched in the nation's history. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the unresolved conflicts and differing paths envisioned for the island's future by key stakeholders. Despite the passage of time since the invasion, the wounds of the past seem far from healing, keeping the island in a state of limbo as discussions on a peaceful resolution remain elusive.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CBC.ca"

Walking the line: former peacekeepers remember the day war ... (CBC.ca)

It is 50 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus put Canadian peacekeepers on the frontline of a war between two countries and two communities.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "POLITICO.eu"

Erdoğan dashes hopes for resumption of Cyprus talks on invasion's ... (POLITICO.eu)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan dashed hopes on Saturday for a resumption of talks on ethnically divided Cyprus, at the anniversary marking 50 years ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Turkish president dampens hopes for restarting talks on Cyprus' 50 ... (ABC News)

Turkey's president has reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state peace deal for ethnically split Cyprus that Greek Cypriots have dismissed out-of-hand, ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

South mourns and north rejoices as Cyprus marks 50 years of ethnic ... (The Guardian)

“The Cyprus peace operation saved Turkish Cypriots from cruelty and brought them to freedom,” he told the jubilant crowd who had gathered in Nicosia, the ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Turkey's Erdogan, Cyprus president see different paths for divided ... (Aljazeera.com)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was in northern Cyprus to mark 50 years since the invasion by Turkish forces, has said he sees no point in ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Africanews English"

Cyprus marks 50th anniversary of Turkish invasion | Africanews (Africanews English)

The island has been divided since Turkey's invasion, which was triggered by a coup by the Greek military junta that toppled the legitimate Cyprus government ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Reuters"

One part of Cyprus mourns, the other rejoices 50 years after split (Reuters)

NICOSIA, July 20 (Reuters) - Greek Cypriots mourned and Turkish Cypriots rejoiced on Saturday, the 50th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of part of the ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

Cyprus still starkly divided on 50-year anniversary of Turkish invasion (FRANCE 24)

Cyprus on Saturday marked 50 years since Turkish troops invaded the Mediterranean island, with comments from the Turkish and Cypriot leaders demonstrating ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Voice of America"

Part of Cyprus mourns, the other rejoices 50 years after split (Voice of America)

Greek Cypriots mourned and Turkish Cypriots rejoiced Saturday, the 50th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of part of the island after a brief Greek inspired ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "EURACTIV"

Stark divide remains as Cyprus marks 50 years since Turkish invasion (EURACTIV)

Cyprus on Saturday (21 July) marked the 50th anniversary of the bloody invasion of the Mediterranean island by Turkish troops with both sides as divided as ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Greek Herald"

The power within: A story of Cyprus and resilience (Greek Herald)

It was on my 1st birthday, the 20th July 1974, when Turkish forces invaded Cyprus and took over half the island.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CNN"

Greeks grieve, Turks celebrate as Cyprus marks 50 years of division (CNN)

Air raid sirens wailed across Cyprus's divided capital Nicosia at dawn on Saturday as Greek Cypriots mourned, and Turkish Cypriots celebrated, 50 years ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "www.ekathimerini.com"

Mitsotakis: It's unthinkable that Cyprus remains divided (www.ekathimerini.com)

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, in his weekly social media address on Sunday.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Washington soldier killed in Cyprus remembered 50 years on at ... (BBC News)

A memorial service has marked the 50th anniversary of the death of a 17-year-old soldier in Cyprus. On 21 July 1974, Guardsman Graeme Lawson, from Barmston, ...

Explore the last week