Turkey’s Vice President, rather than President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as is customary, will represent Ankara at the events marking the 52nd anniversary of the Turkish invasion in the occupied territories.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, the website Kıbrıs Postası reported that although the Turkish President will not attend this year’s 20 July ceremonies, “political observers and diplomatic sources note that the programme will take place in a different political atmosphere from the customary celebrations of previous years.” Erdoğan was also absent from the corresponding events in the occupied territories in 2016 and 2022.
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, codenamed “Attila,” began on 20 July 1974.
Although the Turkish Presidency provided no explanation, this development comes shortly before the scheduled visit of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus from 27 to 29 July to promote the peace process. During his stay on the island, he will meet with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, as well as other stakeholders.
Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, who was elected in October 2025 and was Erdoğan’s main political rival in the occupied territories, does not share Ankara’s position regarding a solution to the Cyprus issue.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement stressing that the Cyprus issue remains an international matter of the unlawful invasion and occupation of a member state of both the European Union and the United Nations.
Πηγές: Εθνικός Κήρυκας, Πολίτης
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