Cyprus Peace Operation and Cyprus veterans from Erzincan

Cyprus, which was an island where various states tried to dominate throughout history, passed under Ottoman rule in 1571 and remained under Ottoman rule for as long as 308 years. The administration of Cyprus was temporarily left to England in 1878 due to the Russian danger. Britain dominated Cyprus until 1960. The transfer of the island to England mobilized the Greeks and the Greeks carried out various activities to realize Enosis. They established the EOKA terrorist organization against the Turks in 1955. In order to protect themselves, Turkish Cypriots established the Turkish Resistance Organization in 1958 against the Greek attacks. In 1960, under the protection of Turkey, Britain and Greece Cyprus republic was declared. However, this newly established republic did not last long. Because of the Greeks against the Turks, the Republic of Cyprus was destroyed. Attacks intensified against the Turks in 1963, 1964 and 1967 in Cyprus, Turkey made efforts to prevent as a result these planned massacre by the Greeks prevented. Greek Cypriot National Guard, in order to realize Enosis realized a coup in Cyprus on July 15, 1974, Turkey has also decided to intervene in order to protect the constitutional order on the island of Cyprus by using the right of guarantee. First Cyprus Peace Operation which began on 20 July 1974 lasted for three days, followed the Geneva Talks which was inconclusive. On 14 August 1974 Turkey began the second Cyprus Peace Operation. In the second operation, the Turkish Armed Forces went as far as the Lefke-Nicosia-Magosa line. The troops sent military operation were consisft of every province of Turkey as well as from Erzincan province. Our soldiers who participated in the operation today bear the titles of Gazi Combatant Gazi. During the interviews whit the veterans of Erzincan province, the veterans expressed the operation proces and their experiences about the events they witnessed. Key Words: Cyprus, TMT, EOKA, Enosis, Agreement of Guarantor, Peace Operation, Geneva Negotiations, Veterans of Cyprus. Quantity of Page: 125 Supervisor: Assoc. Dr. Abdulaziz KARDAŞ