Prime Minister Ünal Üstel Advocates for Sovereign Equality Amid Commemoration of EOKA Anniversary

Üstel's message included the following remarks:

"The EOKA terrorist organization, aiming to annex Cyprus to Greece, commenced armed actions on April 1, 1955, thereby staining the tranquility of Cyprus with blood.

The fascist EOKA terrorist organization, in line with the 'Akritas Plan,' known as the 'plan to annihilate the Turkish Cypriot people,' carried out armed attacks that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of innocent individuals.

EOKA, which subjected the Turkish Cypriot people to massacre and genocide, also forced the Turkish Cypriot community to evacuate from 103 villages.

As a result of these treacherous attacks by EOKA, the Turkish Cypriot people were sought to be forcibly transformed from equal founding partners in the Republic of Cyprus into a Greek Cypriot state.

The heroic and self-sacrificing Turkish Cypriot people, under the leadership of the Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT) and with the support of the motherland Turkey, waged an epic struggle against the dark, harsh, and evil days brought about by the fascist terrorist organization EOKA, refusing to submit to the Greeks, refusing to allow the dignity of Turkishness to be trampled, and preventing Cyprus from becoming a Hellenic island.

Unfortunately, the mindset exhibited by the same attitudes that have persisted since the 1950s continues to this day.

Therefore, a solution between the two sides can only be achieved on the basis of 'sovereign equality within the framework of two separate states.'

With these sentiments and thoughts, I condemn all terrorist organizations, including EOKA, which pose a threat to world peace, and respectfully commemorate all innocent victims who have fallen victim to terrorism."