Today is the 50th anniversary of the fascist Greek coup d’état, which aimed to realize the ideal of Enosis, the annexation of Cyprus to Greece.

The coup, which was led by Greek generals against Archbishop Makarios in order to annex the island to Greece and turned into a massacre, ended in failure when Türkiye landed on the island on July 20, using its rights arising from the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee.

50 years ago today, on July 15, 1974, the Greek Cypriot terrorist organisation EOKA and the Junta in Greece who were against further delaying the annexation of the island to Greece staged a coup d’état against the late Greek Cypriot leader Makarios who had postponed efforts due to the resistance put up by the Turkish Cypriots.

According to Makarios, the conjuncture and time were not suitable for the realization of Enosis and the Turkish Cypriots needed to be eliminated gradually but according to the Greek Junta and EOKA-B, there was no need to wait any longer.

Shortly after the inter-communal talks broke down, on July 15, 1974, Cypriots woke up to the sound of gunfire and artillery.

This time, however, it was not the Turkish Cypriots who were under attack, but Makarios’ Presidential Palace.

Under the command of Greek officers, the Greek Cypriot National Guard Army and EOKA-B staged a coup.

In his speech to the UN Security Council on July 19, 1974, Makarios, who barely escaped with his life in the coup, clearly revealed the aims of Greece, explained the massacres and the dangers awaiting the Turkish Cypriots.

Following the success of the coup, Nikos Sampson, an EOKA fighter supported by the junta in Greece, was declared president.

During the coup, some 2,000 Greeks and Greek Cypriots who were anti-EOKA or pro-Makarios were killed.

Thousands were imprisoned.

Concerned that the Turkish Cypriots would be next, Türkiye launched the Peace Operation on the morning of July 20, 1974.

Thus, the coup failed when Türkiye exercised its rights under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee and landed on the island on July 20.