Written evidence submitted by Cyprus Turkish
Fighters Association
It has come to our knowledge that your Committee
is conducting an inquiry on Cyprus. Please find attached the memorandum
reflecting the views and concerns of the Cyprus Turkish Fighters
Association on the Cyprus question.
As the name implies this Association's membership
is open to those persons who took part in the Resistance Movement
and the fighters who actually participated in stopping the armed
Greek Cypriot attacks on our community.
MEMORANDUM ON
THE CYPRUS
ISSUE
As the Hon members of the esteemed committee
are well aware the Turkish Cypriot have been the victims of horrendous
crimes committed against them by the Greek Cypriots specially
during the EOKA emergency years and the post independence period
stretching 1963 to 1974. This we all remember so vividly.
The Turkish Cypriots have also not forgotten
the anti Turkish behavior and actions of the Greek Cypriot community
in the post independence years 1960-63 Partnership Republic.
The above well documented facts have made it
imperative for us the Turkish Cypriot people of Cyprus that any
solution should have no cracks in the new structure which could
be manipulated for extending Greek Cypriot domination over us.
A. The Cyprus question has been on the agenda
of the international community for 41 years. Many initiatives
aimed at its permanent solution ended in failure, including the
latest initiative of the UN Secretary-General. The comprehensive
settlement plan of the UN-Secretary General was seen as a balanced,
workable and fair settlement by the international community, accepted
as a compromise by the Turkish Cypriot side but strongly rejected
by the Greek Cypriots as unacceptable. Greek Cypriots argue that
they are willing for a viable settlement but could not accept
the Annan Plan which did not address their so called "serious
concerns." However, the truth is that Greek Cypriots are
not ready for any settlement based on power sharing and equality.
They prefer to continue enjoying their usurped title of the "Government
of the Republic of Cyprus" and pursue the settlement of the
Cyprus question within the EU to their full advantage.
B. The 1960 Republic of Cyprus was established
as a Partnership Republic with checks and balances between the
Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot partners. However in line
with their aspiration to turn Cyprus into a Greek island Greek
Cypriots destroyed the 1960 partnership Republic of Cyprus in
1963 by attacking The Turkish Cypriot Community and ejecting all
Turkish Cypriot elements, by force of arms from the organs of
the government. Since then, Greek Cypriot administration of South
Cyprus has been usurping the title of the "Republic of Cyprus"
as if it is the "legitimate government of the whole Cyprus".
C. Through our national resistance, we protected
our vested rights at all costs and faced a period of oppression
and violence during the years between 1963-74. It is an officially
recorded reality that during this period, a quarter of the Turkish
Cypriot population in the island became refugees some of them
three times over, hundreds were abducted and went missing and
hundreds of Turkish Cypriot civilians lost their lives at the
hand of Greek Cypriots. Those lucky enough to survive Greek Cypriot
atrocities were forced to live in small enclaves being subjected
to gross violations of human rights.
D. Being saved from total annihilation by
the timely intervention of Turkey at the time of Sampson Coup
in 1974, we faced isolation and were outcast as if the Cyprus
question was created by the sufferers rather than the oppressors.
The Greek Cypriot side was allowed to continue with the pretence
that it was the sole representative of Cyprus. Actually, Greek
Cypriots were awarded for their aggression and achieved what they
sought in the first place, namely a purely Greek Cypriot administration.
We, on the other hand, have been subjected to economic, cultural,
sporting and similar inhuman embargoes and deprived of our right
to international representation through our democratically elected
representatives. Using the benefits of international recognition,
the Greek Cypriot side managed to convince the world that the
Turkish Cypriot side was unwilling for a political settlement
and our "punishment" continued. However, the reality
finally emerged when the Turkish Cypriot people were given the
opportunity to exercise their separate will and hold a referendum
on the comprehensive settlement plan of the UN, the Annan Plan.
24 April 2004 referendum proved beyond doubt that The Turkish
Cypriot side was indeed ready as it had always been for power
shearing on equality bases.
E. Turkish Cypriots acted positively in
the simultaneous referenda which were held on both sides of the
island on April 2004. The plan was approved in the Turkish Cypriot
referendum by 65% of the votes whereas 76% of the Greek Cypriot
people rejected the plan. This clearly indicated they had no desire
for a solution based on political equality. The Turkish Cypriot
people declared their will for a just settlement based on bi-zonality
and equality whereas the Greek Cypriot people clearly demonstrated
that they are not ready for any power sharing agreement with us.
F. The referendum result confirmed our main
concern that the Greek Cypriot aspirations to fully dominate the
island had not changed and is not likely to change unless they
are made to see that the international community will not allow
such a finality as a Greek Cypriot domination in Cyprus at the
cost of our rights. As the Turkish Cypriot Fighters Association,
representing the Turkish Cypriots who put everything at stake
to protect their vested rights and freedoms in the past. We are
determined to stand in the way of future Greek Cypriot efforts
aimed at extending their illegal writ over the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus. We call upon the international community to
stand by our just conviction to ensure that Greek Cypriots acknowledge
the fact that Cyprus is the common home of Turkish Cypriots and
Greek Cypriots alike who always had and shall continue to have
an equal say over its destiny. Only then the way to a political
settlement in Cyprus shall be open.
G. History stands testimony to our political
and sovereign equality well as the Greek Cypriot refusal to accept
this reality and resort to all means including violence to turn
us into a mere minority in our own homeland. We know very well
that given the opportunity. the Greek Cypriot side shall not hesitate
to repeat its aggression against our people. We hope and trust
that the international community, in general, and the EU in particular,
shall stand in the way of Greek Cypriot efforts to do away with
the established parameters of a future solution especially political
equality and bi-zonality. Allowing Greek Cypriot posture to prevent
the negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue and carry it to
EU platform in order to solve it in line with its political considerations
will certainly hold undesirable consequences for the whole Union.
H. Before the referendum, the Turkish Cypriot
people were assured that if they displayed a constructive approach
and voted for reconciliation, as envisaged in the Annan Plan the
inhuman embargoes would be lifted regardless of the result of
the Greek Cypriot referendum. Now, it is time for the international
community to keep their promise by lifting the embargoes imposed
on the Turkish Cypriots to end our unjust isolation from the rest
of the world.
I. After the referendum, Greek Cypriots
concentrated their efforts towards the international community
and especially the European Union, trying to prevent any positive
decision which will support the Turkish Cypriots. Knowing the
Greek Cypriot psychology this negative attitude was no surprise
for us. As the Turkish Cypriot people, we still keep our faith
that international community will not be misled once again by
the Greek Cypriot side and serve their political objectives.
J. Greek Cypriots are still arguing that
the Cyprus problem started in 1974 with the Turkish intervention
but the truth is totally different. Cyprus issue started in the
late 1950's as a direct result of the joint efforts of Greece
and the Greek Cypriots to annex the island to Greece and culminated
by the Greek Cypriot attack on us at the and of 1963. It was the
long overdue timely intervention of Turkey in 1974 which prevented
extermination of the Turkish Cypriots and the annexation of the
island to Greece. Greek Cypriots claim that existence of the Turkish
troops in the island prevent the possibility of a solution. However,
the Annan Plan envisaged the removal of the Turkish troops from
the island. in a step by step procedure. By saying "no"
in the referendum Greek Cypriots clearly demonstrated that their
past attitudes and acts were not sincere.
K. Greek Cypriots also claim that the presence
of Turkish troops and the continuation of the Treaty of Guarantee
threatens their security. How can the existence of a symbolic
number of Turkish troops less than the number of Greek troops
allowed by the Annan Plan threaten the security of Greek Cypriots
who considerably outnumber the Turkish Cypriots? As for the Treaty
of Guarantee, why would a right given to both our motherlands
and the United Kingdom that will not be exercised unless it is
absolutely necessary disturb the Greek Cypriots if there are no
bad but peaceful intentions? In any case, the history of Cyprus
shows that it is not the Greek Cypriots who should worry about
security needs but our people. It is for this reason that the
continuation of the Treaty of Guarantee and the presence of Turkish
troops on the island is absolutely necessary for fulfilling our
need for security and ensuring us that the tragic experiences
of the past will not be repeated.
L. Greek Cypriots speak of their displaced
persons and complain that under the Plan they would not be able
to return to their homes left in the north. However, according
to the Plan thousands of Turkish Cypriot ex-refugees would have
to leave their homes once again paving the way for resettlement
of the Greek Cypriots. On the other hand, it has come out that
properties of the Turkish Cypriots in the south has been destroyed
or expropriated by the Greek Cypriot administration. This would
be a small price to pay as the separation of the Communities is
the dominant factor in preventing intercommunal violence.
M. Greek Cypriot make missing persons a
main issue of political exploitation. It is true that many Greek
Cypriots went missing during the internal fighting between separate
Greek Cypriot fractions following the coup of 15 June 1974. It
is true that additional Greek Cypriots went missing during the
peace operation of 1974. But it is also true that almost all of
the Greek Cypriot missing were soldiers lost in action. It needs
to be stressed that the Turkish Cypriots have hundreds of missing
who nearly all were savagely murdered women and children during
the fateful years of 1963-74 at the hands of Greek Cypriots. Nevertheless,
we respect the agony of the families of missing persons on both
sides. And in line with that respect, Turkish Cypriot authorities
took the initiative and "Missing Persons Committee"
restarted its activities. As the Turkish Cypriot people we also
want to determine the fate of our missing and if possible honour
them with a proper burial. We do not, however, exploit this tragedy
for political gain but only contribute to its solution. Our silence
is not because we did not suffer but out of respect for the families
who continue to suffer every time the issue is brought up without
a solution.
N. Greek Cypriot side which rejected the
UN plan has become a member of the EU, while the Turkish Cypriot
side which has approved the plan has not only remained outside
the EU but continues to be subjected to illegal restrictions and
embargoes. We are disappointed to see that, initiatives of the
European Union on helping Turkish Cypriots after referendum have
been blocked by the Greek Cypriots. This is definitely contrary
to the principles of the European Union. It is high time for EU
member countries to take concrete steps towards lifting all the
restrictions on the political, economic and social development
of the Turkish Cypriot people. It is incumbent upon the United
Kingdom as one of the three guarantor powers to take the lead
in this respect and establish closer relations with the Turkish
Cypriot side in all fields.
O. As the Turkish Cypriot Fighters Association
we are for a peaceful negotiated settlement in Cyprus. Our Association
had serious objections about the Annan Plan and lots of reasons
existed in the minds of each and every Turkish Cypriot for rejecting
the Plan, but the majority of Turkish Cypriots still accepted
it as a compromise for a peaceful future for our youngsters. At
this point, the Turkish Cypriot Fighters Association cannot and
will not support any solution which is not based on political
and sovereign equality, which does not ensure the continuation
of the Treaty of Guarantee which will not ensure bi-zonality,
and provide the Turkish Cypriot people with their own state. As
for the displaced, missing persons, right to property and other
human rights aspects of the Cyprus question, they can only be
settled on the basis of realities that will not cause new problems.
We strongly believe that only such a solution can ensure lasting
peace and security for both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek
Cypriots.
P. We believe the Greek Cypriot leadership
will not deviate from its rejectionist stance unless it is made
to understand that the Turkish Cypriot side is able to continue
its existence and development without having to accept their illegal
writ. It is for this reason that we are determined to protect
and promote the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus until an agreeable
solution is reached. In the name of a speedy and fair solution
in Cyprus we call upon the world to support our full development
in all fields which is the only way to overcome the present impasse
intentionally created by the Greek Cypriot side.
Vural Urkmen
Chairman, Cyprus Turkish Fighters Association
5 November 2004
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