The Unilateral Declaration of Independence
(UDI)
of the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus
in violation of International Law and
UN Security Council Resolutions
November 15 marks
seventeen years since the illegal regime in the occupied part of Cyprus, with
the encouragement of the Turkish government, unilaterally declared independence
in violation of international law and of the treaties of establishment and
guarantees of the Republic of Cyprus. That illegal act was condemned by the UN
Security Council in its resolution 541(1983) which called upon the Turkish side
to withdraw the illegal UDI and to stop all secessionist acts. It further called
upon all states not to facilitate in any way the secessionist entity and not to
recognize any other state than the Republic of Cyprus.
Instead of complying with resolution 541 (1983), Turkey and its regime in the occupied area proceeded in six months with a further secessionist act by “exchanging ambassadors”. The UN Security Council, having considered the situation at the request of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus adopted resolution 550 (1984). The Council expressed grave concern “about the further secessionist acts in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus which are in violation of resolution 541 (1983), namely the purported “exchange of Ambassadors” between Turkey and the legally invalid “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” and the contemplated holding of a “Constitutional referendum” and “elections”, as well as by other actions aimed at further consolidating the purported independent state and the division of Cyprus.”
Turkey which
ignores all UN resolutions calling, inter alia, for respect of the sovereignty,
territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Cyprus, aims at
destroying the Republic of Cyprus and establishing two separate states on the
island legitimizing in that way her
act of aggression against Cyprus. This
policy has been persistently pursued by Turkey
and the Turkish Cypriot regime in the occupied northern part and it is
now openly advocated as the official position of the Turkish side in the
negotiations for an overall settlement.
From the time of
its invasion, Turkey follows a step by step policy aiming at altering the
demographic structure in the occupied part by bringing in settlers from Turkey
and at changing the character of that part.
Ancient toponyms have been changed and been given Turkish names, churches
have been destroyed and the Greek Cypriot population has been driven out of its
place of birth. These policies together with a total negative behavior by Turkey
on the negotiating table to reach a comprehensive settlement on the basis of the
UN resolutions, aim at creating with the passage of time faits accomplis for the
partition of the island.
The Turkish
Government and its illegal regime should come to realize that the illegal entity
in the northern occupied part created and sustained by the use of force, exists
in violation of international law and that it is not possible for the
international community to ever legalize the results of an invasion and
occupation. They should also realize that being in defiance of international law
and UN resolutions, they only lead the Turkish Cypriot Community to further
economic and political isolation.
Turkey is looking forward to enhance its relations with the European Union and is already a candidate country for becoming a member of the European Union. It is our hope and the hope of all concerned that in its road to Europe will adopt a new behavior characterized by European standards and by the respect of human rights and international law. In this framework we hope that Turkey’s attitude towards Cyprus will change fundamentally thus permitting a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.
* * * * *
Back