On July 20, 1974, the Republic of Cyprus was invaded by Turkey resulting in the continued occupation of 37 percent of the territory of the Republic, the forceful expulsion of 200,000 Greek Cypriots, the unknown fate of 1619 missing Greek Cypriots, the unknown fate of five missing American citizens and the plundering of the Cypriot cultural, archaeological and religious heritage in the occupied area.

Turkey intended to destroy the Greek Cypriots as an ethnic and religious group by large-scale killings and cold blooded murders of those who surrendered. The European Convention on Human Rights laid these charges against Turkey:Turkish troops were responsible for repeated rapes of women of all ages from 12 to 71, sometimes to such extent that the victims suffered hemorrhages or became mental wrecks.

It is even more frightening than it sounds. We are almost in the twenty-first century and the peace-loving Greek Cypriots are still suffering under Turkish occupation. The civilization that gave birth to democracy is now under the threat of the inhuman actions and desires of Turkey.

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Turks may build their homes and raise their children in northern Cyprus, but the land will never be theirs. The land that gave birth to my father and grandfather can never be Turkish. No matter how many years pass, the Greek land will remain Greek; the Greek Cypriots will remain Greek. As we say, Once a Greek always a Greek! It is an honor to the person with Greek heritage. It is an honor and a gift from God to be Greek!

Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering