Today marks the 50th anniversary of the crisis in Cyprus in 1974, which left the island divided, BGNES reported.
Then the Greek Cypriots and the dictatorship in Athens demanded unification between Cyprus and Greece. Turkey responded by intervening with military forces.
Greece considers what happened to be a military invasion, while Ankara defines it as a peaceful operation to protect the Turkish population in the northern part of the island.
In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey, was proclaimed. In 2004, the island was admitted to the European Union, but in practice European law is applied only in its southern part.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be in Cyprus today.
In both parts of the island solemn events and commemorative ceremonies are planned. Ankara has also prepared an air show, the first Turkish aircraft carrier TCG Anadolu will also participate. | BGNES
