TURKEY’S
OCCUPATION IN CYPRUS MUST END
July
20,
2004
July 20th 2004
marks the 30th year since
Turkey
invaded the
Republic
of
Cyprus
in 1974. Against all odds and contrary to the disastrous consequences of the
Turkish invasion and continuing occupation, the Government of the Republic and
the people of
Cyprus
, have managed, through a lengthy and colossal struggle, to rebuild
Cyprus
’ injured economy and to reach admirable levels of social and economic
advancement. As a result of this progress and of many years of hard work, on
May 1st 2004
,
Cyprus
along with nine other countries, achieved its rightful place, as a full member,
of the European Union.
Cyprus
’ road to
Europe
was not an easy one. A remarkable effort was carried out under very difficult
conditions: thirty seven percent of the island under Turkish occupation; the
issues of refugees, missing persons and the enclaved still unresolved; and the
human rights of all Cypriots being violated by
Turkey
on a daily basis. It was a long and bumpy road to
Europe
but simultaneously a very promising one, both socially and politically. The
path to accession raised hopes that it would act as a catalyst for the long
desired solution of the Cyprus problem, the reunification of the island and the
restoration of human rights throughout Cyprus, so that a united country could
enter the European Union. Turkey’s own aspiration to become a member of the
European Union, reinforced hopes for solution
as the expectation was that Turkey would finally behave as a European country
permitting human rights, fundamental freedoms and the respect of democratic
principles to prevail in a Cyprus settlement. Not only were those hopes dashed,
but a UN settlement plan that did not respond to the minimum requirements and
legitimate aspirations of the Greek Cypriot community was put to a referendum in
Cyprus
on
24 April 2004
. The great majority of Greek Cypriots voted “no” to the UN Plan as they
considered it to be imbalanced and one that addressed the geostrategic interests
of
Turkey
rather than the legitimate concerns of the people on the island.
The Greek Cypriot community,
true to its beliefs and ideals of real democracy and respect for individual
rights, a truly independent country free of foreign hegemony, rejected the
proposed settlement. It is incongruous, for one to claim, that the “no vote”
of the Greek Cypriots was a “no vote” to a solution of the
Cyprus
problem, to reunification or to the concept of a federation. The Greek Cypriots
in rejecting the settlement plan were merely expressing their opposition to
unacceptable and anachronistic provisions such as: the perpetual stationing of
Turkish troops on the island, the continuation of the treaties of guarantees
that made
Cyprus
subject to foreign dependence, the abolition of individual rights for the sake
of communal rights and many other weaknesses it contained. Paradoxically, some
appear to show respect to the democratic will of the Greek Cypriots only in
words, while in deeds, they do whatever possible to punish the Greek Cypriots
for their vote.
Meanwhile,
Turkey
, the country that invaded
Cyprus
and which continues to occupy one third of the island in defiance of
international law, gets away with impunity while its illegal military presence
on the island is not even questioned. Efforts are being made by certain powers
through a policy of so-called “ending the isolation of the Turkish
Cypriots”, to change the parameters that constitute the
Cyprus
problem as one of invasion and occupation. Those
who wish for the so-called “upgrading” of the illegal regime in the occupied
part of Cyprus, ignore the fact, that an act of aggression by a large foreign
power against its smaller neighbour persists for 30 years keeping Cyprus and its
people divided; that the aggressor continues to commit such international crimes
as the illegal settlement of the occupied areas, the destruction of religious
and cultural heritage of the area under Turkish military control and ethnic
cleansing against the Greek Cypriot population of the Karpasia area. It should
be noted that the so-called “isolation of the Turkish Cypriots” is primarily
the consequence of the illegal occupation of northern
Cyprus
and their own refusal to accept international legality, as well as their
insistence on promoting their divisive policies. Regrettably, in the course of
achieving their separatist goals, the Turkish Cypriot leadership does not
hesitate to sacrifice the economic advancement of the Turkish Cypriot community
for the sake of achieving its political ends.
The Government of Cyprus has
been and continues to remain committed to a solution of the
Cyprus
problem based on UN Resolutions and High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979.
This objective cannot be reached if the policy of cajoling the perpetrators of
the 1974 invasion while punishing the victims continues. The international
community should turn its attention to the substance of the
Cyprus
problem and demand implementation of UN resolutions and the rules of
international law. It should ask
Turkey
to end its illegal occupation of the island so that the people of
Cyprus
can enjoy as a whole the benefits of
Cyprus
membership in the EU.
Instead of looking into ways of
how to end the so-called “economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots”, the
international community should focus its efforts in convincing Turkey that her
continuing illegal presence on the island and her insistence on keeping the
Republic of Cyprus its hostage for an eternity, are neither consistent with the
accepted rules that govern today’s democratic world or with Turkey’s desire
to find a place within the European Union.
The Government of the
Republic
of
Cyprus
will not cease working for a just solution that will free
Cyprus
from the Turkish occupation troops, will reunify the island and its people and
restore the human rights of all Cypriot citizens, Greek Cypriots and Turkish
Cypriots alike.
In this quest for justice
Cyprus
expects the international community to stand by its side.
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