Thread by @Zemenides

Today is a dark day in human history.

Some describe the 46 year occupation of #Cyprus as a “Frozen Conflict” but that is neither an accurate nor an honest description.

Cyprus’ occupation is an ongoing crime, a crime in which too many have served as accomplices of #Turkey.

Today, we do not simply “commemorate” a historic event - we bear witness to one of the longest standing war crimes (and one of the longest standing issues before the @UN Security Council: a sovereign member of the UN (and EU member) remains occupied and forcibly divided.

Many may think, “So what? Why does this Greco-Turkish tension matter to me?”

For those astonished by #Turkey’s treachery on matters like the S400s or ISIS, five decades of appeasement by @StateDepartment on #Cyprus convinced Ankara that Washington would not hold it accountable.

Getting away with an illegal invasion, a 46 year occupation, ethnic cleansing, constant war mongering and more made Turkey feel above the law.

Not convinced yet? As the world still grapples with Russia’s attacks on #Ukraine, just remember what the historical precedent for that action was: newrepublic.com/article/116931…

For those shocked and surprised by #Erdogan’s conversion of #HagiaSophia, they must have missed @SenatorCardin and @RepChrisSmith calling out Turkey for destroying Christian heritage on Cyprus: csce.gov/international-…

As ISIS and other terrorists attack and kill American citizens, it is not lost on them that Turkey hasn’t been held accountable for murdering Americans because of their Greek-Cypriot ethnicity. 46 years later, Turkey has failed to return the remains of 4 of these Americans.

Protesting Turkey’s attempts to ethnically cleanse Northern #Syria rings empty when they have escaped all their previous crimes of ethnic cleansing, including #Cyprus

So to @StateDept and @USEmbassyCyprus - let’s stop being cute with words and correctly identify the manner in which Turkey kicked off this 46 year crime: #ItIsAnInvasion.

And for those that cynically celebrate a “Peace Operation”, they need to be called out on their bs. NO definition of peace includes murdering thousands, relegating 1/3 of a country’s population to refugee status and using NATO’s 2nd largest army to occupy an island

This blatantly dishonest “peace” narrative is also inconsistent with the facts of 1974:
✅ Turkey purported to act a guarantor of Cyprus, but did not act consistently with Treaty of Guarantee which required it to restore Cyprus’ consitutional government

✅ Most of Turkey’s war crimes were carried out in the second wave of the invasion in August of 74, IN THE MIDST OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

✅ Turkey’s invasion and occupation has been roundly condemned at the United Nations and at the European Court of Human Rights: hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=00…

Has all this appeasement of Turkey resulted in a reliable and steadfast ally, a bastion of pluralism that can bridge East and West, or a modern Muslim democracy? Nope. Just the opposite. Erdogan’s Turkey = #WorstAllyEver

If Turkey keeps getting away with occupying Cyprus, it will believe that it can get away with much, much more. The road to peace, justice and stability in the #EasternMediterranean runs through Cyprus.