As the 24th anniversary of the Greek Coup d'Etat of 15 July, 1974 and Turkey's legitimate intervention five days later on 20 July, 1974 approaches, it is important to recall several fundamental points which reflect the true nature of the Cyprus question.

The enmity and mistrust between the two peoples; Turkish and Greek Cypriots are rooted in history and are mainly the result of the ethnic cleansing which the Greek and Greek Cypriots staged against the Turkish Cypriots between 1963 and 1974 for achieving Enosis (the union of Cyprus with Greece). These attempts to bring Cyprus under Greek domination and particularly the coup staged by the Athens Junta on 15 July 1974 compelled Turkey as one of the Guarantor Powers of the Cyprus settlement under the Treaty of Guarantee to intervene on 20 July 1974 in order to stop the ethnic cleansing of our community.

The Turkish Cypriot people are grateful to Turkey for the effective security guarantees whiich are vital for the preservation of peace and stability on the island. The practical consequences of the events of 1963-1974 have been the emergence of parallel administrative, judicial and legislative organs for each of the two peoples. The institutional organisation of the Turkish Cypriot people developed through various stages and culminated in 1983 in the setting up of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The Turkish Cypriot people in the meantime, are leading their own life under their own flag, in peace and security within the territories of the TRNC. In spite of this, in the international field the Turkish Cypriots are denied the full exercise of their basic rights and freedoms.

The Greek Cypriot administration has embarked on a massive propaganda effort in misleading world public opinion on all aspects pertaining to the Cyprus issue. By perpetuating the fallacy of treating the illegal Greek Cypriot regime as the legitimate government under the false pretence of "Republic of Cyprus", the Greek Cypriot side reaps the benefits of satehood, engage in inhuman practices of embargoes against the Turkish Cypriots and benefit from practically all international aid originally given for both peoples of the island. Naturally they have shown no real interest in any kind of settlement which should be based on two sovereign states.

Most recently the efforts to deploy the S-300 missiles, putting into effect a joint military doctrine, the construction of air and naval bases for use by the Greek armed forces are the latest examples of their aggressive move. Despite the warnings of the Turkish Cypriot side and other countries and the UN, they went ahead and purchased the S-300 missile system from the Russian Federation. The S-300 missiles which would alter the military balance in the region dramatically, are a direct threat to the security of the Turkish Cypriot people and to that of Turkey. Naturally, Turkey as a Guarantor Power and the TRNC will take all the necessary measures to preserve the military balance.

Consequently, I can say that we as Turkish Cypriot people, are determined to defend our rights of equality, sovereignty, our independent state, the TRNC and Turkey's guarantorship no matter what trick the Greek Cypriots play.

by. Heves Gazi