Turkey's National Defence Ministry released a video Friday recalling killings of Turkish Cypriots by the Greek-Cypriot paramilitary group EOKA [1].
The release coincides with a period of high tension in the region. It arrives two days after the 52nd anniversary [2] of the Greek military junta-backed coup on Cyprus and three days [2] before the anniversary of the Turkish invasion.
In the video, the ministry said that the killings committed against Turkish Cypriots by the Greek-Cypriot terrorist group EOKA will not be forgotten [1]. The content focuses on the violence directed at Turkish Cypriot populations, framing the events as part of a larger historical struggle.
A spokesperson for Turkey's Defence Ministry said, "We have not forgotten EOKA’s bloody legacy" [2]. The ministry used the video to condemn the group's actions and remind the public of the violence that occurred during the conflict.
The timing of the video serves as a reminder of the historical grievances that continue to shape diplomatic relations between Turkey, Greece, and the divided island of Cyprus. By highlighting the "bloody legacy" of EOKA, the ministry reinforces the narrative used to justify its historical and ongoing military presence in the region [1].
The ministry's communication emphasizes that the memory of these attacks remains central to Turkey's national security perspective regarding the eastern Mediterranean. The video was distributed through official channels to ensure wide visibility ahead of the upcoming anniversary commemorations [2].
“"We have not forgotten EOKA’s bloody legacy."”
The timing of this video release is a strategic use of historical memory to reinforce Turkey's geopolitical stance. By evoking the violence of EOKA immediately before the anniversary of its own 1974 intervention, Turkey is framing its military history in Cyprus as a necessary response to ethnic cleansing and instability, rather than an act of aggression.
