Turkish invasion of Cyprus

Establishing a Truth Commission on missing persons on Cyprus is an initiative whose time may have come. It would allow the relatives of the missing to learn the circumstances of their loved ones' deaths in the bicommunal troubles and in the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Also, it could increase trust between the island's two communities and contribute towards ending its division.

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties appealed to their respective leaderships on Thursday to open more crossings to facilitate better communication between the island's rival communities.

Τhis year Greece celebrates half a century of a well-functioning democracy following the collapse of the junta in July 1974.

The invasion of Cyprus and the tragic division of the island were the last and most painful chapter of that dark period in the nation's modern history.

On Friday July 19, 1974, 30-year-old pilot Adamos Marneros was glued to his television screen in London. The British networks, first and foremost the BBC, were constantly relaying information about an imminent Turkish invasion of Cyprus, just four days after the Greek military junta-backed coup against Cypriot President, Archbishop Makarios III.

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz reaffirmed Ankara's support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to become a full member of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on Saturday.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders met on Tuesday in New York for informal talks hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and agreed to meet again soon to discuss discuss "the way forward" on stalled reunification talks.

The crew of the last flight to Nicosia Airport from Rome arriving as Turkey launched its invasion of Cyprus. This poignant image captures the moment history changed forever, serving as a powerful reminder of the tumultuous events of 1974 that reshaped the island's landscape.

Turkish Cypriots will "not be brought to their knees" by imposed restrictions and have forged their own path with distinct language, religion, culture, and resilience, announced Ersin Tatar, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), on Tuesday, addressing the U.N., European Union, and other parties.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will hold informal talks with Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders in New York in October "to have an exchange on the way forward on the Cyprus issue," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday.