Commemorating 50 years of Turkish occupation, hardship and struggle in Cyprus

The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Athens marked the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus on Tuesday with a photo exhibition aiming to visually recount the devastation of 1974.

"This year marks a tragic anniversary for Cyprus. Fifty years ago, in July 1974, Turkey illegally invaded [the northern portion of] Cyprus in violation of the UN Charter and international law," Cypriot Ambassador Stavros Avgoustides said in his opening address to an audience of mainly Cypriots, foreign ambassadors, and Greeks.

The 1974 Turkish invasion resulted in 36% of Cypriot territory falling under de facto Turkish control. Some 200,000 Greek Cypriots were forced to flee south, abandoning their homes. Wounds still run deep.

The emotional weight of this 50-year anniversary was palpable at Tuesday's event. The Cypriot ambassador and the director of...