20 July, First Step to Peace

Exactly 48 years ago, the late Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Bülent Ecevit, said, “We are going to bring peace to Cyprus not only for the Turks but also for the Greeks.” The statement was both a requirement of Atatürk's principle of "Peace at Home, Peace in the World" and an indication that the rights, lives and properties of our compatriots would be protected.

It happened as Ecevit said. The peace operation on 20 July 1974, whose 48th anniversary we celebrate today, may not have been able to provide a permanent solution on the island, but at least since then, it has brought peace and freedom to all communities living in Cyprus, with the exception of isolated incidents. The value of this peace and freedom should be well understood by the Turks, who have equal status despite being a minority in population, as well as the British, Maronites, and the Greeks, who are in an equal position according to the constitution, despite being the majority in population.

It is clear that it will not be possible to reach a solution by ignoring the Turks and not seeing them as equal, that the conflict harms not only the Turkish side, but also all the Cypriot people, including the Greeks, and that the continuation of this conflict may pose a problem for the security of the island.

Turkish Cypriots suffered mostly from the social conflict that took place before 1974, but the benefit of peace spread to every society.

Those who have lived through a war know the value of peace.

In the end, the peace operation, in accordance with its name and Ecevit's foresight, ensured peace and freedom in Cyprus.

All components of the Cypriot people should continue this first step of peace, again under the leadership of Turkey. Considering the changing world order, in order for the island of Cyprus to become an island of peace, freedom and prosperity, two equal and sovereign states should be accepted by the whole world, and the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Republics should be made both NATO and EU members together. With Turkey's membership in the EU, the Eastern Mediterranean will be strengthened by first dividing and then uniting in terms of security, economy and politics. With this solution proposal, which will be won by all components, the security concerns constantly expressed by the Greek Cypriot side are eliminated from the table, while the Turkish side gains its economic and political freedom.

After this envisioned development, Turkey, the region's older brother, historical patron and the rising power of the world, can of course lead the establishment of a new security and cooperation organization within the scope of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Of course, it is not easy to ensure peace and cooperation in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean geography, where communities that struggle with each other and are set against each other by saying that "you are this or you are that".

But it should be considered, evaluated and implemented.

Just as there is OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), that is AGİT in Turkish.

There should also be OSCIMEM (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean), that is, ODAGİT in Turkish. 

This is only possible with relations to be developed with the countries of the region, fair and equitable resource sharing and increased dialogue.

In the world order, which has changed from multipolarity to bipolarity and the balances that have changed after Russia's attack on Ukraine, Turkey can increase its influence in its surrounding region not only with military and political demonstrations, but also with such peaceful policies. Instead of ethnic, religious, sectarian and administrative unity and solidarity and/or separations; It is in the interest of all countries in the region, including Turkey, to implement policies focused on common interests, peace, mutual good relations and mutual gains.

Policies focused on "Peace at home and in the world", which is one of the ingenious determinations of the founding philosophy, will not only provide an environment of peace that not only Turkey but all the countries of the region expect and miss, but will also curb the imperialist ideas of the great powers playing for their own interests in the region.

I commemorate with gratitude and salute all our martyrs and veterans, our mujahideen, who are the architects of today's peaceful environment on the island of Cyprus and sacrificed themselves for their country, and all our politicians who are rational, patriotic and honest, who give their work and wisdom for the benefit of their country and society.

Let it be a happy day of peace and freedom.