THE
UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (UDI) IN CYPRUS
CONTRARY
TO THE RULE OF LAW AND EUROPEAN PRINCIPLES
15
November, 2004
The 15th of November 2004
marks the 21st anniversary of the unilateral
declaration of independence (UDI) by the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied
northern part of
Cyprus
. This act was condemned by UN Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550
(1984) which called it legally invalid and asked for its immediate withdrawal.
Resolution 550, also called upon all States not to recognize the purported state
of the “
Turkish
Republic
of Northern
Cyprus
” set up by secessionist acts nor to facilitate or in any way assist that
secessionist entity.
Not only have the Turkish Government and
the Turkish Cypriot leadership refused to comply with the aforementioned
resolutions instead they have insisted on pursuing their secessionist policies.
It is even more unfortunate that during all these years, they have done so, with
impunity. The people of
Cyprus
have seen, too many times, their hopes for a just solution of the problem of
Cyprus
, dashed. Faced for over 30 years with Turkish intransigence, the Greek Cypriot
community had also to face a policy of double standards with regard to
application of the rule of law and human rights principles around the world. The
international community acted collectively to revoke the invasion of
Iraq
in
Kuwait
, but has not done the same in the case of the Turkish invasion of
Cyprus
.
Regrettably, after the April 24
referenda on the Annan Plan, using as a pretext the democratic decision of the
Greek Cypriot majority to reject the proposed plan for a solution to the Cyprus
problem, some have began exerting efforts to circumvent established principles
of international law and decisions of European Courts, to bypass Resolutions 541
and 550 and to assist the secessionist entity by ending the so-called isolation
of the Turkish Cypriot community. But it is neither the Cyprus Government nor
the international community that isolate the Turkish Cypriots. It is the
continuing Turkish occupation of part of a sovereign member state of the UN and
the persistence of the Turkish Cypriot leadership and the Turkish Government in
promoting their secessionist policies as well as their own refusal to recognize
the Republic of Cyprus, that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriot
community. While
Turkey
is knocking at the door of Europe, expecting it to open on December 17, it
refuses to recognize the
Republic
of
Cyprus
, one of the twenty five EU members with an equal say on
Turkey
’s European future.
The
Cyprus
problem is not an internal conflict. It is an international problem created by
the use of force contrary to international law and the UN Charter. It is the
result of aggression committed by Turkey, which by its occupation and gross
violations of the rule of law and human rights has gradually ethnically-cleansed
the Greek Cypriot population of the occupied north, replacing it with tens of
thousands of illegal settlers from the Turkish mainland, refusing to abide by
Security Council resolutions and the judgments of the European Court of Human
Rights.
Despite the accession of the Republic of
Cyprus to the European Union and Turkey’s European aspirations to also become
an EU member, the Turkish policy of gaining international recognition of the
part of the Republic that Turkey seized by invasion and occupation in 1974,
continues unchallenged. The rejection by the Greek Cypriots of a specific
solution of the
Cyprus
problem does not justify the continuation of the Turkish occupation in
Cyprus
and the gross violations by
Turkey
of the human rights of the people of
Cyprus
.
The international community should stand
by UN Security Council Resolutions. We all advocate that legality and
international law must prevail. As the United Nations Secretary General said in
his speech before the UN General Assembly “the victims of violence and
injustice are waiting for the international community to keep its word and
restore and extend the rule of law throughout the world”. The people of
Cyprus
should not be the exception. They
too are waiting for the international community to keep its word and facilitate
a solution of the
Cyprus
problem without occupation troops and settlers, refugees and missing persons,
one that would reunite the island into one country and one people and not
cultivate with its actions division or secession. For, as the UN Secretary
General has said “It is the law, including Security Council resolutions, which
offers the best foundation for resolving prolonged conflicts around the
world.”
The
Republic
of
Cyprus
on
May 1 2004
joined the European Union as a full member. It is our earnest hope that the
Turkish side which also claims a place in the EU will soon realize that its
European ambition and perspective imply ideas and policies based on unity, more
integration and cooperation and not separation and division. One united
Cyprus
in the European Union, free of occupation troops and settlers is a guarantee
for a prosperous future of both communities in
Cyprus
, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots alike.
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