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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader, Ozgur Ozel, responded to the comments made by the Greek official Stefanos Stefanou – who described the Cyprus Peace Operation as "occupation."
Ozel participated in the Socialist International Presidents' Council meeting in New York, accompanied by a delegation that included CHP Secretary General Selin Sayek Boke, CHP Youth Branch President Gencosman Killik, Deputy Chairman for Foreign Affairs Ilhan Uzgel, Istanbul Deputy Namik Tan and Cesme Mayor Lal Denizli.
Responding to Greek official's remarks, Ozel stated: "The important part for my party is this: The 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation was conducted during the CHP's rule and under the premiership of our third Chairman Bulent Ecevit."
Therefore, if I do not note this here, it would be unacceptable for me and my party in my country, he asserted.
Ecevit announced the Peace Operation to the world, stating that it was conducted to bring peace to both Turks and Greeks.
The operation was a military action with political aims, advancing only to one-third of the island.
Continuing his remarks, Ozel stated: "They could have taken the entire island, which then would have been labeled an occupation. Since then, just as we have participated in all peace talks, Türkiye has also become a country that fulfills all requests from the United Nations and other international organizations, never behaving like an occupier."
Ozel also emphasized that peace, not war, should be discussed in Turkish-Greek relations.
In the first session, Ozel also raised the issue of Israel's massacres in Palestine and proposed that the next meeting of the Socialist International be held in Ramallah, Palestine.
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