Turkish troops and guarantees must be part of a solution to the Cyprus problem, and this idea will not be abandoned, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said according to a CNA report on Thursday.

In statements made the previous evening during an event in Chatos village in the north, Tatar slammed the international community for condemning everything unfolding in Gaza at the moment, but the UN did not interfere “when Turkish Cypriots were massacred.

“As such, guarantees, and Turkey’s military presence is important.”

The event which took place in Chatos marked the second phase of the Turkish invasion in 1974. Similar events were held in Maratha, Santalari and Aloa, which were Turkish Cypriot villages that saw 126 Turkish Cypriots killed by Greek Cypriot Eoka B members after the first leg of the invasion on July 20, 1974.

Tatar said Turkish Cypriots fought to exist and “won our freedom and independence with the struggle of our mujahideen and the intervention of Turkey.”

In Maratha, the Turkish Cypriot leader said no Greek Cypriot was punished for the massacre while he stressed peace came to Cyprus on July 20, 1974 – when Turkish troops invaded the island.