The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) issued a strong condemnation regarding celebrations and public messages issued by the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece on April 1, marking the anniversary of the establishment of the EOKA organization.

EOKA, founded in 1955 with the stated goal of enosis—the annexation of Cyprus to Greece—and the suppression of Turkish Cypriots, is remembered by the TRNC as a terrorist organization responsible for atrocities and ethnic violence.

The Ministry stated that the glorification of EOKA in official events and rhetoric, including school events in Greece and remarks by Greek officials such as an MEP declaring “Cyprus is Greek”, reflect an unchanged and aggressive policy mindset.

“This behavior clearly demonstrates that the Greek Cypriot/Greek side remains committed to excluding Turkish Cypriots and reducing them to minority status, rather than seeking a just agreement with the co-owners of the island,” the statement read.

The TRNC emphasized that these divisive actions damage trust and future reconciliation efforts, especially when youth are targeted with nationalist propaganda. It warned that using education to spread hostility fosters irreversible harm.

The Ministry called on the Greek Cypriot leadership to abandon outdated notions of domination and instead acknowledge the current reality on the island: two distinct peoples and two separate states coexisting side by side.

“A lasting peace can only be built upon the sovereign equality and equal international status of both peoples,” the statement concluded.