With reunification hopes, Cyprus commemorates Turkish invasion anniversary

Cyprus commemorated on Wednesday the 42nd anniversary of the Turkish invasion which split the island into two regions, a situation that the Greek and Turkish Cypriot authorities hope to resolve this year.

The Turkish invasion of Cyprus came just five days after the 1974 coup d’etat, organized by the Greek military junta, which sought to bring the island nation under Greek control.

On July 20, 1974, the Turkish Army invaded and occupied the northern third of the island, a territory designated as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.

Four decades later and with around 30,000 Turkish troops stationed in the northern section of the Mediterranean island, Cyprus is still awaiting reunification.

The southern Greek Cypriot region is a member of the European Union.

The President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, said on Wednesday during the commemoration of the invasion that unification of the island was the only way that the Turkish soldiers would leave.

“Our obligation, as tribute to the victims (of the conflict), is the reunification of the island,” said Anastasiades who, along with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, believes that the division should be resolved in 2016.

Local Cypriot press said that the failed coup d’etat in Turkey on July 15, could threaten the 2015 Cyprus peace talks in which both Anastasiades and Akinci sought outline the reunification of the island.

The Turkish Cypriot leader was one of the first leaders to criticize the failed coup d’etat in Turkey.

Akinci said that the attempted coup would not affect Northern Cyprus.