Greeks mourn, Turks celebrate anniversary of invasion that split Cyprus
Air raid sirens sounded across the southern Greek Cypriot-populated parts of Cyprus at 5:30 a.m. (0230 GMT), the exact time when Turkish troops landed on the northern coast in a military intervention triggered by a brief Greece-inspired coup.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was due to attend celebrations in north Cyprus, a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides attended a memorial service in the south to commemorate the more than 3,000 people who died in the Turkish invasion, which also drove tens of thousands of Greek Cypriots from their homes.
"Despite those who want us to forget, we will never forget, or yield an inch of land," Christodoulides said, calling celebrations in the north "shameful".
Efforts to reunify Cyprus as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation have repeatedly failed amid deep-rooted mistrust and competing visions for the island's future.
Before the invasion, clashes between Turkish and Greek Cypriots saw Turkish Cypriots withdraw from a power-sharing government and prompted the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers in 1964.
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said the invasion had brought "peace and tranquility" to the island following the "darkest years" for Turkish Cypriots.
"Their (Greek Cypriots) goal was to destroy the Turkish Cypriots," he said in a video address posted on X.
The simmering conflict complicates Turkey's ambitions to foster closer ties with the European Union, of which both Cyprus and Greece are members.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week the two sides would continue discussions on trust-building measures, warning that "there is a long road ahead".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
How country on Putin's doorstep is preparing for invasion… with a forest barricade, hidden army & miles of dragon teeth
ON Vladimir Putin's doorstep, a tiny Nato nation of two million people are drawing up war plans for a possible invasion. Lithuania has recruited a secret army and drawn up plans for a forest barricade and miles of anti-tank dragon teeth to help keep Russia's bloodthirsty tyrant at arm's length. 13 13 Whilst the Baltic state doesn't have a direct border with mainland Russia, it shares almost 700km with their allies in Belarus. It is also nestled up to Russia's militarised outpost Kaliningrad - leaving them vulnerable to Russian interference and future attacks. Insiders have been warning for years that there are "very clear" examples of Putin "waging operations" in Lithuania already. Just this week, officials in Lithuania said Russia is ramping up GPS jamming operations against the country - with pilots reporting more than 1,000 disruptions in June. It marks a massive increase - with 585 incidents recorded in May and 447 in April. And security chiefs have identified the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad as the source of the "interference". In the face of evil, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's former Foreign Minister, said his country is continuing to push back against enemy forces. Lithuania is already in the top five Nato members who spend the most on defence each year. The government has also managed to make a deal with Germany to secure 5,000 additional troops to be ready to fight on behalf of Lithuania. Lithuanians are also pushing for the creation of a blockade with Belarus - in case Putin launches a cross-border invasion. Zelensky warns Putin eyeing FIVE other European countries for invasion if he isn't stopped dead in Ukraine Landsbergis told The Sun: "There is a push to think about defence lines on the border. "I would like to see wherever possible new forests being seeded to plant trees. "We still have a lot of open space which could be used by tanks to roll over. "I would like to see actual defence lines being built with mines, ditches, infrastructure, such as dragon teeth. "We are taking this really seriously and it shows to the enemy that we are taking the threat seriously." As a former MP in Lithuania, Landsbergis is well aware of the threat that Russia poses. Should Putin chose to invade a Nato member then he would likely choose Lithuania, many insiders believe. 13 13 13 This is due to its small size - but also the long border it shares with two regions under heavy Russian protection. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, a former security adviser to the Lithuanian government, believes the enclave of Kaliningrad is "the main target for the Russians". Another reason for Russia to view Lithuania as an easy target is due to their small army. Lithuania has less than 15,000 active personal in their ranks - and their equipment is also among the most outdated in Europe. A bloodthirsty tyrant like Putin may fancy his chances at pulling off a successful invasion. Meet Lithuania's 'Iron Wolf' troops "WE are ready to fight Russia until the last man, Vladimir Putin's war has a long shadow over the Baltic states - and many people fear if Russia isn't stopped in Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia could be next for Vlad. Lithuanian troops and armoured vehicles were on exercise in the bone-chilling cold of the frozen forests of the Pabrade training area. Our reporter was embedded with them as they carried out the war games drills just 10 miles from Belarus - Russia's closest ally and a nation that is essentially a puppet state for Vlad. There is a danger of feeling removed from the war in the UK, but for the people of the Baltics the conflict is essentially knocking at their front door. Troops hunkered down in foxholes and crawled along the snow-covered ground as they prepared for the possibility they could one day have to fight to defend their homes. Read more about the drills here. But Lithuania is fighting back against the threat. They have agreed to a major deal which would bolster their numbers and improve their battlefield experience. By 2027, Germany will send across an entire, highly-skilled combat unit to be stationed around Vilnius. This will prompt Putin to rethink any invasion plans, Landsbergis believes. He added: 'The Russians will have to take into consideration that they would be attacking, not just Lithuanian troops, but German troops now.' Germany pose a much greater threat to Moscow due to their huge and advanced army. 13 13 13 And any form of attack on German troops will provoke a response from Berlin far greater than Russia has felt before. Vitkauskas and Landsbergis believe more nations within Nato should follow Germany to bolster fellow allies who sit in striking distance. Maintaining strength as a country - and as a united block with other states in Nato and across the world - is vital to keep Russia at bay, Vitkauskas said. He added: "The question is how strong are we as country? "And it's not just Lithuania, any country around us or or even further in different continents." PUTIN'S TWISTED PLOTS It's feared a Russian attack could "spark at any moment" - especially with Putin already wreaking havoc across Europe, experts warn. Since the invasion of Ukraine, nations on the Baltic Sea have faced damage to undersea power cables, arson and cyberattacks. A number of attacks on the continent have been attributed to Putin - including a fire at an Ikea store in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius. Putin also has a history of facing accusations saying he is being major cyber attacks which strike critical enemy infrastructure. Estonian military chief Martin Harem previously warned how the tyrant uses an electronic warfare system to jam GPS technology on flights and ships. 13 13 Vitkauskas believes the despot thrives of "uncertainty by causing chaos within the public", so leaders must always be "vigilant" and "prepared". To counter the threat, Lithuania is putting "a lot of effort" into protecting their energy and electricity supplies - but also, internet networks and broadband. This critical infrastructure will be the first to be struck if Russian forces launch an assault so must be a priority, Vitkauskas cautioned. "When we talk about the Russian threat, we understand there is an intent and there is capability," Vitkauskas said. "We've seen what's happening around Europe, what's happening in our country and we know the capability is there. "There are very clear examples the Russians have decided to wage operations in our country. "The main effort from the Russian special services is to raise some doubts. It's very strategic. But I'm sure it will not succeed." Timeline of Russian sabotage attacks across Europe SINCE the war in Ukraine it is believed the Russians have launched a wave of sabotage attacks across Europe. Oslo, Norway, June 29, 2022 - Cyberattack renders government websites unusable for 24 hours Riga, Latvia, February 27, 2024 - Arson attack on'Museum of the Occuption' London, UK, March 20, 2024 - Wagner-group linked arson attack at warehouse Wroclaw, Poland, April 18, 2024 - Plot to assassinate Zelensky foiled Warsaw, Poland, April 13, 2024 - Warsaw shopping centre torched by suspected Russian agent Berlin, Germany, May 3, 2024 - Cyberattacks on German politicians and companies Prague, Czechia, May 3, 2024 - Mass cyber attacks on government and infrastructure Vilnius, Lithuania, May, 9, 2024 - Arson attack on Ikea - targeted as store was same colour as Ukrainian flag Paris, France, June 7, 2024 - Russian accused of planning plot to plant bomb at D-day celebration Dusseldorf, Germany, July 12, 2024 - Western intelligence reveal plot to assassinate German arms boss Birmingham, UK, July 22, 2024 - Russia suspected of planting device at DHL depot Warsaw, November 8, 2024 - Prosecutors reveal Russian parcel bomb plot across Europe Vilnius, Lithuania, November 25, 2024 - DHL cargo plane crashes after suspected Russian package bomb Baltic Sea, December 25, 2024 - Estlink-2 cable cut by ship anchor - one of many cable cutting attacks linked to Russia Landsbergis fears the Kremlin may already be plotting how to launch an invasion through the use of cyber warfare. He says one possible scenario could involve them causing a train travelling from Moscow to Kaliningrad via Lithuania to break down. Putin could then say he is obliged to send his men to help the Russian citizens trapped on board. These border agents and police officers would also need to be accompanied by Russian troops due to them entering a hostile environment. Landsbergis believes it could then "all escalate in a matter of hours". Serious panic for both Lithuanian officials and Nato would soon set in once Putin's men enter through Belarus. Landsbergis speculated: "Maybe we're just overreacting right? It's a normal civilian rescue situation. "Just help Russians with whatever you can, don't shoot, don't escalate. Take it slow and maintain a cool head. "But then the next thing you know we lose at least partially the control of all of our territory." 13 13
The Sun
21 hours ago
- The Sun
Donald Trump slams ‘invasion' of migrants ‘killing' Europe & tells leaders ‘get your act together' as he lands in UK
DONALD Trump said the "invasion" of migrants is "killing" Europe as he told the leaders to "get their act together" after landing in the UK. The MAGA prez touched down on Air Force One in Scotland this evening for a four-day visit - his first visit to the UK since his re-election. 4 4 4 He is expected to visit his golf resorts at Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast and Menie in Aberdeenshire over the weekend. The president was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray before speaking to reporters. But when asked about illegal immigration, Trump said a "horrible invasion" was taking place in Europe which needs to stop. Don said: "On immigration, you better get your act together. 'You're not going to have Europe anymore, you've got to get your act together. 'As you know, last month we had nobody entering our country – nobody, [we] shut it down.' He added: 'You've got to stop this horrible invasion that's happening to Europe.' Trump, who made a crackdown on illegal immigration a major policy in his second term at the White House, boasted: "Last month we had nobody entering our country." Trump's comments come as Sir Keir Starmer faces enormous pressure to tackle illegal immigration in the UK. In Labour's first six months in office, there was a 29 per cent increase in arrivals compared to the previous year. Migrants REFUSING to leave luxury taxpayer-funded hotels forcing Home Office crackdown From election day to the end of 2024, 23,242 migrants arrived to enjoy bed and board on the taxpayer. In 2025 — so far — another 21,117 have crossed, up a staggering 56 per cent compared to 2024 and a shocking 75 per cent higher than in 2023. Labour has vowed to end the use of asylum hotels by the 2029 election, in part by moving migrants to cheaper forms of taxpayer-funded accommodation. But just days ago, Sir Keir sparked uproar by claiming there was plenty of spare housing for both illegal migrants and homeless Brits. Meanwhile, a four-star hotel in London's flash financial district Canary Wharf was set up to receive hundreds of new migrants. The latest batch of small boat migrants who have illegally landed are ready to be hosted in style to the tune of £5.5million a day. Mr Trump also suggested he would be meeting Sir Keir 'tomorrow evening', although it is understood the pair will not meet until Monday. He praised him ahead of a meeting between the two at one of his courses in the coming days, describing him as a 'good man'. 'I like your Prime Minister, he's slightly more liberal than I am – as you probably heard – but he's a good man. He got a trade deal done,' he said. As well as the Prime Minister, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is also set to meet Trump. She confirmed on X that she will come to Scotland on Sunday in a bid to hash out a trade deal between the US and Europe. It comes after Trump s lapped Europe with a whopping 30 per cent tariff set to hit the EU from August. But he told journalists today there was a 'good 50/50 chance' of a deal being struck, adding that it would be the 'biggest deal of them all'. The president and Sir Keir are expected to discuss potential changes to the UK-US trade deal which came into force last month. After years watching Channel migrant crisis unfold Brits have just about snapped – and it's killing Starmer Opinion by Jack Elsom, Political Editor CAST your mind back to Christmas 2018 when a few dozen migrants clambered into rickety dinghies off the French coast and headed for Britain. Then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid flew back early from his family holiday to declare a 'major incident', MPs called for the Navy to be deployed and the public rightly demanded action. You don't need me to tell you what happened next: over the next seven years 174,000 more would-be asylum seekers crossed the English Channel. Billions of pounds of taxpayer cash have been ploughed into snapping up hotels for them to live in, with free bed and board. The lives of vulnerable men, women and children have been tragically lost. And families feeling the pinch have watched agog as successive governments throw good money after bad. Yesterday's revelation that thousands of asylum seekers have been gambling with money from taxpayer-funded pre-paid cards was shocking. But in many ways what is more depressing is that nobody is even really surprised any more. Read the full piece here.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Get your act together on immigration, Trump tells Europe as he lands in Scotland
Europe 'better get your act together' on immigration, US President Donald Trump said as he landed in Scotland. Mr Trump is in the country for a four-day visit to both of his golf clubs in Aberdeen and Ayrshire. Landing at around 8.30pm on Friday, the president was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray before speaking to reporters. Asked about illegal immigration – which successive UK governments have sought to curb – Mr Trump said: 'On immigration, you better get your act together. 'You're not going to have Europe anymore, you've got to get your act together. 'As you know, last month we had nobody entering our country – nobody, (we) shut it down.' He added: 'You've got to stop this horrible invasion that's happening to Europe.' Immigration, Mr Trump said, was 'killing Europe'. Some European leaders, he continued, 'have not let it happen' and are 'not getting the proper credit they should', though the president did not say who he was talking about. Mr Trump said: 'Many countries in Europe, some people, some leaders, have not let it happen, and they're not getting the proper credit they should.' The president also praised Sir Keir Starmer ahead of a meeting between the two at one of his courses in the coming days, describing him as a 'good man'. 'I like your Prime Minister, he's slightly more liberal than I am – as you probably heard – but he's a good man. He got a trade deal done,' he said. 'You know, they've been working on this deal for 12 years, he got it done – that's a good deal, it's a good deal for the UK.' The president's motorcade – which contained more than two dozen vehicles – passed a small group of protesters as he entered his Turnberry golf club. Mr Trump also suggested he would be meeting Sir Keir 'tomorrow evening', although it is understood the pair will not meet until Monday. As well as the Prime Minister, Scottish First Minister John Swinney will meet with the president, as will European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who confirmed on X she will come to Scotland on Sunday in a bid to hash out a trade deal between the US and Europe. Mr Trump told journalists there was a 'good 50/50 chance' of a deal being struck, adding that it would be the 'biggest deal of them all'. The president and Sir Keir are expected to discuss potential changes to the UK-US trade deal which came into force last month. Mr Swinney has pledged to 'essentially speak out for Scotland'. Speaking as he boarded Air Force One in the US, Mr Trump said he would be having dinner with the Prime Minister at Turnberry, before 'going to the oil capital of Europe, which is Aberdeen'. He said: 'We're going to have a good time. I think the Prime Minister and I get along very well.' Mr Trump added: 'We're going to be talking about the trade deal that we made and maybe even approve it.' He also told journalists he was 'looking forward' to meeting with the 'Scottish leader' Mr Swinney, describing him as a 'good man'. During his time in Scotland, the president is also likely to spark a number of protests, with concerns being raised about how such demonstrations are policed. Police Scotland has called in support from other forces in the UK to help bolster officer numbers, though senior officers and the organisation which represents the rank-and-file have accepted Mr Trump's visit will have an impact.
