Turkish invasion of Cyprus

Turkey has underlined that any future initiative for the resolution of the decades-old Cyprus problem should be based on “current realities” and on the fact that Turkish and Greek Cypriots have differing conceptions of a new federal state. 

Talks on the reunification of Cyprus should resume only if the "political status" of Turkish Cypriots is addressed should the new talks fail, a senior Turkish Cypriot official said.

Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos said that archives regarding the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974, which had been locked away for 43 years would be made public for the first time. During his visit in Nicosia Mr.

Turkish-Cypriot newspaper Yeni Duzen reported that access to a beach near the fenced-off town of Varosha is open only to Turkish nationals and Turkish-Cypriots showing identification.

According to the paper, Greek-Cypriots and foreign nationals are not allowed to enter.

On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared on Wednesday, TRUTH NOW repeated its call for the Republic of Cyprus to take all necessary measures for the ascertainment of the truth and restoration of justice.

The non-governmental organization also called on the government to provide guarantees of non- repetition of similar events and mistakes.

Murat Mihran İşler, a Turkish-Armenian veteran of the Turkish army's move on Cyprus in 1974, was laid to rest in Istanbul on Aug. 22.

Before the division of Cyprus in 1974, Varosha - a resort town in Famagusta - was booming. The coastline was reportedly a destination for film stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

It is now a ghost town. Its hotels, restaurants and high-rise structures looming over sandy beaches have been slowly decaying.

After the collapse of the Cyprus intercommunal talks and with the Greek Cypriot side insisting on taking unilateral actions in utilizing the offshore wealth of the island, tension started to build up with the start of drilling by French Total in Cyprus' offshore Block 11 on July 13.

Tassos Isaac, 24, and Solomos Solomou, 26, two young, brave Greek Cypriots standing up against the occupation, were brutally killed on Aug. 11 and 14, 1996 by Turkish occupation forces.

The civilized world should remember and honor their memories.

Tensions between Athens and Ankara were reignited Wednesday in the aftermath of celebrations on Tuesday by Turkish Cypriots to commemorate napalm bombs being dropped on the Tylliria region in northwestern Cyprus during intercommunal clashes on the island in 1964.