A panel titled “Let Ayşe Go on Vacation” was organized in the Turkish capital Ankara to mark the 49th anniversary of the July 20 Turkish Peace Operation.
The panel was held in collaboration between Ankara Etimesgut Municipality and the Turkish War Veterans Association.
The event was attended by Enver Demirel, the Mayor of Etimesgut Municipality, the TRNC Ambassador to Ankara İsmet Korukoğlu, the Chairman of the Turkish War Veterans Association and a Cyprus war veteran Beyazıt Yumuk, writer Ahmet Göksan, Retired Major Ahmet Şerafettin Yamaner, and war veterans who took part in the 74 peace operation.
During the panel, the TRNC Ambassador İsmet Korukoğlu gave information about the stages of the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation.
He explained that following the first phase of the operation an agreement was reached during talks held in Geneva between the parties for Greek and Greek Cypriot soldiers to leave the areas where Turkish Cypriots lived.
However, he noted that instead of withdrawing from areas under Turkish control, the Greek-Greek Cypriot forces continues to intensify their attacks on Turkish Cypriot enclaves.
Korukoğlu explained that the green light for the second phase had been given after both the late Turkish Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit and Turkish Foreign Minister Turan Güneş had realised that no results could be achieved from the talk.
“Thus the second phase was given the go-ahead with the message ‘Let Ayşe Go on Vacation.’ Subsequently, on August 14, 1974, the second stage of the operation was initiated, and it was successfully concluded on August 16, 1974.”
Panellists also shared historical information and heroic acts from the Peace Operation with participants, supported by facts and documents.
In addition to the panel, an exhibition featuring photographs depicting the Cyprus Peace Operation was opened in the panoramic area of the Turkish History Museum.
After the opening of the exhibition, Enver Demirel, the Mayor of Etimesgut Municipality, toured the museum with the veterans and provided them with information about the museum.