Written evidence submitted by Turkish
Cypriot Human Rights Committee
With regard to the ongoing inquiry on Cyprus
I wish to submit the attached memorandum on behalf of the members
of our Organization. We have no doubt that the views end comments
incorporated in our memorandum are shared by a large majority
of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Dervis Baha
President
Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Committee
1. As of 1 May 2004, the Greek Cypriot Administration
of Southern Cyprus is among the 10 new EU member countries.
2. The Greek Cypriot Administration which
is accepted as an EU member does not represent the partnership
State established between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots
in 1960. Since the forcible expulsion of the Turkish Cypriot side
from the partnership Republic by the Greek Cypriot side in 1963,
there has not been a single state, government or parliament with
the right and authority to represent the island as a whole.
3. From 1963 to 1974, for 11 years, one
of the serious cases of human rights violations in the history
of humanity was experienced in Cyprus.
4. During the period, Turkish Cypriots were
subjected to acts of violence by the Greek Cypriot side. Nearly
30,000 Turkish Cypriots were forced to flee from their homes and
rendered refugees in enclaves with no freedom of movement and
deprived of basic necessities to survive, Greek Cypriot paramilitaries,
raided Turkish villages and towns. The armed campaign led to the
destruction of 103 Turkish Cypriot villages along with all the
mosques and holy places. Due to immense human suffering, thousands
of Turkish Cypriots fled from the island. The Security Council
discussed the situation and decided to dispatch a UN peace keeping
force in March 1964. Long before the term ethnic cleansing was
coined in connection with the Bosnia tragedy, it was practiced
in Cyprus by Greek Cypriots against the Turkish Cypriots.
5. The 41-year-old continued occupation
of the seat of Government of the once bi-communal partnership
Republic of Cyprus by the Greek Cypriot partner since 1963, is
the reason of the Turkish Cypriot isolation from the international
arena and since then, Turkish Cypriots have been waiting a just
and viable solution for their isolation to end.
6. Separate referenda on the Annan Plan
were held on 24 April 2004 on both sides. The plan was approved
by 65% at the Turkish Cypriot referendum. However, because of
the Greek Cypriot rejection by 76%, the UN initiative ended in
failure.
7. Despite the historical background and
the significant sacrifices that the UN Secretary General's plan
entailed for many of them, Turkish Cypriots said yes to the Annan
Plan to facilitate the resolution of the Cyprus issue prior 1
May 2004 and enable the entry of a united Cyprus into the EU.
Turkish Cypriots said yes to many compromises such as becoming
refugees for the second or third time during their lifetimes by
moving from their villages; leaving behind their properties that
would tall within the territories to be handed over to the Greek
Cypriots; giving most fertile lands such as Guzelyurt, which provides
the water supplies of the North, to Greek Cypriots; accepting
the withdrawal of Turkish Army in stages from the island which
is perceived as the main source of deterrent against repetition
of Greek Cypriot aggression; giving up their right to moral and
material com.
8. With the referenda, Turkish Cypriot people,
once again expressed their will in favour of a comprehensive settlement
on the island based on bi-zonality and political equality of the
two peoples. On the other hand, Greek Cypriots, with an overwhelming
majority showed that they are not willing to enter into a power
sharing arrangement with the Turkish Cypriots which they see only
as a minority rather than the co-owner of the island. International
community failed to condemn the negative attitude of Greek Cypriots
who destroyed the partnership Republic in the past and rejected
the comprehensive settlement plan of the UN Secretary General
at present.
9. It is the Greek Cypriot rejection which
stopped the entry of a united Cyprus into the EU and brought the
problems of a divided conflict island upon the rest of the European
family. Now, instead of accepting the responsibility of this undesired
outcome and agreeing to compromise for its speedy correction,
Greek Cypriot side started to use the benefits of its new membership
to its full advantage.
10. Greek Cypriot side is vigorously trying
to prevent EU openings towards Turkish Cypriots such as the direct
trade and financial aid regulations by using their position as
the internationally recognized "government of Cyprus"
in a negative manner.
11. Greek Cypriot side is trying to use
Turkey's EU accession process as a tool to achieve their main
objective; to destroy our equal political rights and give Turkish
Cypriots protected minority status in their homeland. Greek Cypriots
are confident that if Turkey accepts its preconditions for furthering
her membership process, it will be very easy to settle the Cyprus
question as it wishes. In other words, the Greek Cypriots administration
is using the Union to do away with those rights of the Turkish
Cypriots which are the very principles the EU is founded on. We
urge the EU member countries to stop the Greek Cypriot Administration
from destroying our rights to freely exist, to rule ourselves
through democratic principles, be represented at all international
fora through our elected representatives, integrate with the world
in all fields and exercise our right to separate will, which we
have already used for a viable settlement.
12. It needs to be stressed that the Turkish
Cypriot people are ready for a just settlement and unification
in Cyprus. However, Turkish Cypriots are also determined to protect
their right to political equality as well as the principles of
bi-zonality and the continuation of the Treaty of Guarantee. Accordingly,
Turkish Cypriot people cannot and shall not accept the authority
of the so called "Republic of Cyprus" which has long
been destroyed by the Greek Cypriot side. The Turkish Cypriot
people have their own state. The fact that the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus is not recognized does not change the reality
that a fully fledged democratic entity exists in North Cyprus.
We are dedicated to our state which is the symbol of our right
to make it as prosperous as possible and shall work towards its
development until a new partnership based on full political and
sovereign equality can be established.
13. It is obvious that unless the Greek
Cypriot side comes to terms with the foregoing realities, it will
not be possible to reach a mutually acceptable solution in Cyprus.
We, therefore, call upon the European Union to support our economic,
political, social and cultural development so that the Greek Cypriot
side can finally acknowledge that there exist an equal people
with same rights and freedoms as their counterparts. There is
no doubt that only then the Greek Cypriot side shall be ready
for a negotiated settlement.
14. Greek Cypriots are portraying the issues
of refugees, property rights and missing persons as human rights
violations affecting only them. These humane questions are not
violations but problems common to both peoples of the island which
arose as a result of their violent efforts to dominate Cyprus.
Annan Plan brought realistic and feasible solutions to these issues
in line with human rights and freedoms. However, the Greek Cypriot
side refused the Plan eliminating the chances of a solution. Now,
they are trying to exploit their EU membership to force upon each
and every Greek Cypriot that the Turkish Cypriot rights and needs
do not exist.
15. The Greek Cypriot side demands that
all Greek Cypriot property in the North should be returned at
the coat of the rights of the present inhabitants. This is despite
the tact that most of them are Turkish Cypriot refugees who had
no option but to flee their homes, establishing and investing
in a new life in the TRNC. Greek Cypriots demand that all Greek
Cypriots displaced should return to their past places of residence.
Is it just to almost punish the Turkish Cypriots who will have
to empty those places and restart a new life again? It is a known
tact that the rehabilitation of ill Greek Cypriots displaced have
long been completed. Greek Cypriot insistence on this issue is
nothing but exploiting human rights for political gain. Surely,
the principle of the right to return does not dictate the victimization
of thousands of people for political considerations. As for missing
persons, we urge the Greek Cypriot leadership to stop its political
exploitation and to start cooperating for a speedy and realistic
solution of this humanitarian subject.
16. It is not easy to solve complex questions
with many humane dimensions to the full benefit of all concerned.
Naturally, it is impossible to solve them to the full benefit
of only one party. If the Greek Cypriot side does not acknowledge
this reality and start co-operating with us for a negotiated solution,
it is obvious that a hard period awaits us all, including the
European Union. It is high time the EU makes it clear to the Greek
Cypriot side that EU norms and principles do not and shall not
provide the basis for its superior rule of the island but calls
for a just and lasting compromised settlement in Cyprus. The immediate
unconditional lifting of all restrictions on Worth Cyprus is the
only way to Contribute to the resolution of the Cyprus question,
To that end, bold actions are necessary on part of EU member states.
We hope arid trust that the United Kingdom shall not hesitate
to take the lead.
Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Committee
9 November 2004
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