Greece ‘apologises’ to Turkey for failing to offer thanks for invasion

Turkey and Greece’s defence ministries have exchanged barbs over recent statements made by Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias on the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

During a trip to Nicosia, Dendias had said that the invasion was “illegal, totally contrary to international law”.

“We are in Nicosia, the last divided city, which is against the principles of international law, against the principles of the United Nations Charter,” he said.

In their response on Wednesday, the Turkish defence ministry called Dendias’ statements during the visit “low-quality, false and slanderous”.

“The heroic Turkish army took action in accordance with Turkey’s right as a guarantor arising from international agreements and saved the Turkish Cypriot people, who had been subjected to all kinds of oppression by the Greek side between 1963 and 1974, from a genocide attempt,” the ministry said.

They called on Dendias “to refrain from trying to undermine the common position put forward by the leaders of the two countries, which aims to advance relations between Turkey and Greece with a constructive approach”.

According to the ministry’s statement, Dendias’ efforts are to make a political career by “sowing discord between the Turkish and Greek peoples”.

Greece was quick to reply later on Wednesday, when they said sarcastically: “We sincerely regret that the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, during his recent visit to Cyprus, failed to ‘thank’ the Turkish invasion and occupation forces for their ‘services’ in defending the principles of the United Nations Charter, the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, the protection of human rights and democracy.”

Dendias had been in Cyprus last week for the 50thanniversary of the coup, which led to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus five days later on July 20.