aspectsofreality

Turkish Cypriot demo protesting Turkey's Cyprus Policy - 07.04.2011

2011-05-20T03:50:00.003+01:00

Turkish Cypriot demo protesting Turkey's Cyprus Policy - 07.04.2011

As broadcast by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation bi-lingual (in Greek and Turkish) Program "Kato Apo ton Idio Ourano" on 28th April 2011

Translation from the Greek subtitles:

[Commentator - introduction]
The demonstrations of the Turkish Cypriots continue, and their messages are varied and multidimensional. In our programme we will have the chance to follow reactions during the demonstrations on the 7th of April [2011].

[Banner: "Ankara take your hands off our collars - KTOS"]

On the 7th of April the demonstrators assembled in front of the "puppet-parliament" and the "embassy". The crowd was not as large as those during the "Demonstrations for Existence and Survival" but there was one substantial difference. The demonstrators this time were more dynamic and demanding. Their reaction this time was directed as much against Ankara and those cooperating with it within the administration here as against the political parties which participate in the "puppet parliament". Some of the demonstrators surrounded the General Secretary of the CTP [Turkish Republican Party] Ferdi Sabit Soyer and the President of the TDP [Communal Democracy Party] Mehmet Çakıcı and booed them, demanding their resignation.
During the demonstration, extra security measures had been taken. Efforts were made to intervene to remove placards with slogans against Turkey and also of the flag of the Republic of Cyprus. The demonstrators reacted violently against these interventions.

[Crowd chanting: "Out with the police"]

[Speaker 1 - with loudhaler] In the past they placed barbed wire between the north and the south. They did that because they considered one side as the enemy. Now they place barbed wire between this "parliament" and the people. These are our enemies. Those who are afraid of the people have no place in the "parliament".

[Speaker 2] If anyone expects democracy here, it is like expecting forests to grow in the desert. That's how simple it is. Unfortunately there is no democracy.

[Speaker 3] If the "parliamentarians" and "ministers" do not resign from the "parliament", if they do not respond to the people's demands, there will be far worse things happening.

[Crowd chants: "Ankara, take your hands off our collars" - "We don't want a dishonest parliament"]

[Speaker 4] Our demonstration is against privatisations.
[Question] What organisation do you work for?
In the Electricity one
[Q] Is that why you are here? Because you are against privatisations?
Yes, I have come because I am against the privatisations but also because I am bothered that they consider the Turkish Cypriot community as non-existent. For so many years we have been trying to explain to those who govern us that we are the Cypriot people ... but they open their ears, but do not hear us, it goes in one ear and comes out of the other.

[Speaker 5] I believe that all the problems in Cyprus can only be ended with a solution of the problem. I am therefore here to support the peaceful stance of the Trade Union Platform.
[Question] Today we did not see the practical support of the parties. What could be the reasons for this?
I am a member of the CTP but I am here. I believe the parties did not wish themselves associated with certain unpleasant events which could arise during the demonstration outside the "parliament" and the "embassy". They may be right. This is however binding only on the party leadership. The people, the simple members, as you can see have come here.

[Crowd chants: "Ayse go home"] ["Ayse goes on holiday" having been the code-name used by the Turkish forces during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974]

[Crowd chants: "Out with the puppets" ]

[Crowd chants: "We do not want a dishonest parliament"]

[Addressed to Speaker 6][Question] What is the reason why you are here today?
As you know the unions which are participating in the Union Platform have declared this year to be "The Struggle for Communal Existence". Within that context there are continuing demonstrations. Todays demonstration is a continuation of the demonstrations which took place on 28th January and 2nd March. That is the context of our presence today. We have come here because as Turkish Cypriots we want to recover our will from those who have usurped it, so that we will not disappear and in order that our voice is heard.
[Question] The security measures today are very stringent. How do you comment on that?
We consider this demonstration to be a peaceful one. We live in a fascist establishment. We see this in each of its manifestations. With every demonstration the "police" measures are becoming harsher and reach the stage of overreaction which become provocative. We condemn this hostile position towards their own people.
[Q] Some people compare these demonstrations here to those in Libya and Egypt. Do the same dynamics exist here and are similar results expected?
That is something which should be analysed by the politicians and the sociologists. What we see is that the Turkish Cypriots have risen against the establishment they find themselves living under. They will continue this struggle until the establishment changes completely. That is clear. I don't know whether this is similar to Libya and Egypt. This is Cyprus. People in those countries have risen up against a repressive establishment. From that perspective there are naturally similarities in our struggle. We want the divisive establishment which has been created in the north to be abolished. As Turkish Cypriots we seek the creation of a democratic establishment which will represent our will and as a continuation that we will reunite Cyprus. These aims of the Turkish Cypriots are clear. This is what they have demonstrated through their mass meetings in the squares. Unfortunately however certain organisations and parties which represent Turkish Cypriots have lagged behind a lot with reference to these demands by the people. As a result the footsoldiers and leaders of the social opposition are today the unions.

[Crowd Chanting: "To hell with fascism"]

[Speaker 7] Here the fascist practices have reached their limits. We see that they are trying through the use of barbed wire to block the march of the people. It is our democratic right to have these mobilisations. The people are demonstrating against situations which bother them. This is their most natural right. When "the state" tries to deny them this right using the police it is fascism. We can no longer speak of democracy. As you can see, they are trying with barbed wire to block the people. Surely the new "ambassador", or we should call him the new "governor", Halil İbrahim Akça, has put in his finger. As you know the Trade Union Platform has declared him persona-non-grata. This unwanted person is proving here how freedom-loving he is, filling the place with police. We have gathered here peacefully making use of our democratic right to express our uprising. They are however using violence. With the roadblocks and truncheons they believe that they will make our people submit. The day will come when our people will overcome all these obstacles. It may be that today they will succeed, but for us this is but one march in our struggle. Struggles are not won easily. They are trying with the use of the "police" and with violence, to stop this people's march, but they will not succeed.

[Question to Speaker 8] Has the way the Turkish Cypriots see Turkey changed?
The Turkish Cypriots had a mistaken view of Turkey. We believed that Edrogan was different, but we see that he is no different. He follows the traditional perception that our relations are those of victim and saviour. In order to change this the Turkish Cypriots must act in unity. In the demonstrations of 28th January and 2nd March this message was delivered. Some people got this message and despite what is said in public Ankara must review the situation.

[Chanting: "Occupier Turkey get out of Cyprus"]

[Speaker 9 - on loudhaler] We will not make presents of ourselves to the puppets .. we will resist the puppets in the same way as we have resisted the packet of measures.

[Chanting: "Out with the puppets"]

[Speaker 10 - on loudhaler] We are here to remind the UBP [National Unity Party] which is ignoring the struggle about the common demands of the Turkish Cypriot people that: the Turkish Cypriots want the withdrawal of the imposed package of measures and to protect their economic and social rights - the Turkish Cypriots do not wish to become the "public" property scapegoat in the name of privatisation.

[Speaker 11] I would very much like to hear the friends who have gathered outside the pseudoparliament, over there where the puppets are, shout the words "Ayse go home", for them to shout it there where Ayse is to be found [there, meaning the Turkish "embassy"]. That is the correct location. Turkey came with the pretext that it will bring peace, but it has enslaved us. It first brought its army, and it then brought its population. It grabbed the properties of the people. It created refugees. It created a false structure. The so called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" is nothing other than Turkey's back yard. All its corruptions can be found here. This is known. They interfere with our flag, the flag of the Republic of Cyprus, the most beautiful flag in the world. That's why Turkey is here.
What is this flag? Of the TRNC? Let them come here to play football. They play with Anorthosis, they play with APOEL ... even Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu [currently the elected President of PACE, who had paid an official visit to Cyprus earlier in 2011], when he came to Cyprus, he did not come via the pseudo-airport. Yet they force me to hold the identification of the "TRNC". If I had it with me I would show it to you. They forced me to have it. They used the emblem of the Republic of Cyprus and placed on top of it a half moon and a star. The apotheosis of racism. The legacy of Denktash ... the Gray Wolves.... the wolves howl and the caravan continues.

[Speaker 12] Does İrsen Küçük [so-called 'Prime Minister' of the "TRNC"] have one of these IDs? He does. İrsen Küçük has one, we all have one ... Erdogan ... look at it. It is not a Greek Cypriot identity. It is Cypriot. For you I have written it also in Turkish.
[Speaker 11, addressing the armed forces] If they didn't block you, you would have these also. In Brussels I'm a local. You are an occupier. Europe doesn't accept you because you are an occupier.

[Q] You have shown your identity ...
I showed it to them ... the "policemen" lunge to grab the Cyprus flag, thats why I show them my identity card. On the Cypriot Identity Card there is the Cypriot flag and all the "parliamentarians" and "ministers" in there have one of these in their pockets. Let them not be ashamed to come out and show it. If they would allow the policemen, tomorrow they would all go to get one. Why do they all lunge against it?
When they are not on duty, they go to the other side every day. They do their trading. They go to the doctors and then they come here and they play the tough guys. This is not my uprising, it is the uprising of all of us. Let them not joke with us, its enough that they are double-faced.
The roadblocks have opened. Over there and over here ... it is all our country.
They have locked us in the sheep-pen, and they have put one ....
The instructions come from over there [presumably he is pointing at the Turkish "embassy"]. The last time we came there were no roadblocks here. Now the new governor has arrived they have them. So that no one can lunge against the governor. Is he a governor? Is it only England that would send us governors? There we are, now Turkey is also sending them. In one country they appoint an ambassador, on the basis of mutual respect. The "ambassador" of Turkey is afraid of us? Let him come out. What are the roadblocks doing here?
[applause]
The other day he told the newspapers that he can't understand ... when he's there, locked-in, then naturally he can't understand.
Let him come here close to us and we'll explain it to him. As long as he is locked up inside he will not understand anything.

[Chanting] "Ayse go home"

[Speaker 13] Tell me, what has changed ... we have had so many demonstrations ... in this place nothing changes without action. Even if we are to die we must do it. And if we are to die, lets die. Let us sit here and let them send the army, guns, tanks ... let them send whatever they want. We are not like the nationalists who are afraid in case the tanks come, just in case they find themselves face to face with the army. We are true patriots. We have worked for this country, we will fight for it. We are not like the nationalists. They are not brave guys who abandoned their positions. We have stayed here in our communities. We don't go around boasting that we have been at war, like those who boast ... "I was in the TMT, I fought, I am in the leadership of this or that group". Marauders raising "patriotic" flags ... let these marauders stop playing the tough guys. I've seen many of them running to save their lives. So let the nationalists not joke with us. We are the people. And we want to live in peace, like people already, in this place.

[Speaker 14 - holding a flag of the Republic of Cyprus] Neither the "TRNC" nor the Turkish flag. I only hold the flag and the identity of my country. Let the occupation come to an end. We don't want Turkey here, nor its money or anything else. We want a free Cyprus, to be able to govern it with our free will. We want a reunited Cyprus. This is my second flag. The first one was grabbed off me by the occupation "police". I would want to tell them that in 1974 when they invaded the island, the soldiers were holding this flag in their hands. They are here because of this flag. Turkey came here allegedly to restore the constitutional order, but it does not live up to its obligations. From now on we target the Turkish "embassy" and our demonstrations will continue.

[Banner] "Turkey take your hands off our collars" - KTOS

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This video (without the superimposed English subtitles) with the original subtitles in Greek is available (along with many other interesting items) at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJSYPunD0PY

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More video of this demonstration at:

http://www.kurultay.org/haberler/dunya/kktc-de-turk-elciligine-rum-bayragi-2011-04-07.html

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See also:

"Downer: No Cyprus Problem Solution – No EU for Turkey"
http://www.cyprusupdates.com/2011/05/downer-no-cyprus-problem-solution-no-eu-for-turkey/

My own comment about the short statement in the above item, about Downer's alleged comment about there being no possibility of 'recognition' of the so-called TRNC:

There is nothing new in "No Cyprus Problem Solution – No EU for Turkey", though its of course nice of Mr Downer to choose to actually remind the Turkish side on behalf of the UN about what is after all an EU matter - what IS interesting in the story as presented here is "in case of a solution he can guarantee Turkey’s EU membership" which just HAS to be a misrepresentation of what Downer might have said. It would be far too presumptive of a former Australian Foreign Minister and a representative of the UN to issue any guarantees on behalf of the EU, which would of course cause great offence to the people, as well as to a number of governments in the EU, as well as to the European Parliament and to the European Commission. That having been said, what is most interesting in this story, if this part of what is reported in this story is correct, is Downer having said that in his opinion there is no likelihood of 'recognition' for the illegal entity created in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus EVEN IF ... "the talks fail and Greek Cypriots are to blame".

That is something which in my opinion should be repeated again and again by all foreign 'dignitaries' having any contact with the Turkish side ... because of course that is what the radical elements on the Turkish side have been trying unashamedly to achieve ever since the troubles of 1963 which long preceded the calamity of the Turkish invasion of 1974!

Making sure that the politicians as well as those in the military and in the mass media in Turkey, but also the many thousands of Turkish settlers shipped into the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus, as well as the Turkish Cypriots still remaining on the island do need to understand. That 'romantic dream' of the Turkish psyche (of a recognised entity in the secessionist north) ... and the mainland's attachment to its own 'strategic interests' in Cyprus is what caused those elements so much damage when the brave Turkish Cypriots who do understand the realities of the world sought to display and raise the flag of the Republic of Cyprus outside their so-called 'parliament' building in April and during the massive demonstrations by Turkish Cypriots in January and March this year!

Flying the flag of the Republic of Cyprus within the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus is the one symbol which can cause the puppet regime in the north to implode!

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See also, the videos uploaded to the Syntyxanoume profile at Youtube:

ΙΝΣΤΙΤΟΥΤΟ ΓΚΑΙΤΕ_ΟΜΙΛΙΕΣ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB8qW7rpQjE
Debating "The Global Crisis and Social Movements and Revolts" - Seminar spoken in English, Goethe Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus - 4th March 2011
An event organised by the Bi-communal Peace Initiative United Cyprus.
Speakers Sener Elcil (KTOS Teachers Union), Nicos Georgiou, (PEO Trade Union), Niyazi Kizilyurek (University of Cyprus), Nicos Trimikliniotis (University of Cyprus), Ari Sitas (University of Capetown), Immanuel Wallerstein, (Yale University)

ΙΝΣΤΙΤΟΥΤΟ ΓΚΑΙΤΕ_ΣΥΖΗΤΗΣΗ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDW2eJTbPKU
Question and Answer - "The Global Crisis and Social Movements and Revolts" - QnA spoken in English, Goethe Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus - 4th March 2011
An event organised by the Bi-communal Peace Initiative United Cyprus.
Speakers Sener Elcil (KTOS Teachers Union), Nicos Georgiou, (PEO Trade Union), Niyazi Kizilyurek (University of Cyprus), Nicos Trimikliniotis (University of Cyprus), Ari Sitas (University of Capetown), Immanuel Wallerstein, (Yale University)

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See links to previous items regarding Turkish Cypriot demonstrations, available at:
"Şener Elcil KTOS - Turkish Cypriots demos planned at the EU against Turkeys Cyprus policy"
http://aspectsofreality.blogspot.com/2011/03/sener-elcil-ktos-turkish-cypriots-demos.html

Arif Hasan Tahsin - a Cyprus History of the 50s and 60s by a former TMT commander

2011-03-29T00:23:00.002+01:00

Spoken in Turkish with English subtitles superimposed over the Greek subtitles which were the basis of the translation - the history outlined is informed by a long term view spanning many decades of Cyprus history by a former leader of the TMT (Turkish Resistance Organisation) which was created in 1958 to counter the Greek Cypriot demands for self-determination meaning union with Greece and the corresponding Turkish Cypriot insistence on partition. The interview provides a brief outline of the relationship of the Turkish Cypriots with the Republic of Turkey which invaded the island in 1974 following the short-lived coup by the Greek Junta which collapsed as a result of that invasion. A brief analysis is also provided of geopolitical developments following WW2 and the relationship with Britain, the US and the Soviet Union, primarily focusing on the period 1955 - 65.

Broadcast by the Biz Emeis bi-lingual program by Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation on 22nd March 2011.

A full translation of the spoken content into English (from the Greek subtitles) is available below.

See also the wikipedia item, "Cypriot intercommunal violence" article here, which provides the information that:

"Arif Hasan Tahsin was a Turkish Cypriot who joined the Colonial police, became a member of Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT) and eventually rose as the number two in hierarchy of the Turkish Cypriots."

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This same video, uploaded to the YouTube profile of Huseyin Halil who conducted the interview, spoken in Turkish, with the original Greek subtitles is available at:

Arif Hasan Tahsin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsTmIa6cSRw

Readers of this item are urged to also look at the very considerable archive of other videos available at that profile.

(The video with Greek subtitles is embedded at the end of this blog item)
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Good evening dear viewers. We are together again in another program about clearly Cypriot subjects. We will begin tonight's program with a very interesting and informative report from Mr Arif Hasan Tahsin. There is no Turkish Cypriot who does not know of him. He is a person with very noteworthy knowledge about the Cyprus issue. Our journalist Huseyin who made this interview had to edit it and shorten it otherwise a single program would not be sufficient to hold all his knowledge and experience. Arif Hasan Tahsin made some truly noteworthy assessments in relation to the past and the present of Cyprus. I will not speak longer so we can go and hear directly from him.

Arif Hasan Tahsin, known to the Turkish speakers of Cyprus as Arif Hodja (teacher), is a retired primary school teacher. As he says himself he is one of the Cypriots who had closely followed every phase of the Cyprus issue from its beginning after the second world war, since which time he was at the centre of certain developments whose lives were stolen by the Cyprus issue from its beginning.

"A Summary of our recent past" - "There can be no rosegarden in the middle of the dirt" - "A Cyprus history" - Arif Hodja has written many books and continues to write as a columnist with the newspaper Afrika, so here now is a brief summary by Arif Hodja of the Cyprus problem.

(AH) When we look at the Ottoman Empire, we see that there is no country which was under Ottoman rule where, following the Ottomans' departure people were able to live together or which progressed. When we look again, where Greeks coexisted with Turks, the one [group] just had to annihilate the other.

Only on Cyprus they were not able to wipe out each other, and that because the British were here. There are a few [Turks] in Greece and also Greeks in Turkey. Despite the agreements however, Turkey does not miss a chance to expell the Greeks. This unfortunately is a historical reality and it has unfortunately also affected Cyprus.

The Greek Cypriots, to whom we usually refer as Greek speakers though I sometimes avoid doing that because there were also the Linovamvaki [Crypto-Christian Moslems of Cyprus] who spoke Greek, with some of them having adopted the Orthodox religion and others became Moslems. At this stage I will omit the terms Greek speaker and Turkish speaker without this meaning that I accept that this part belongs to the Greeks or to the Turks.

No, the island belongs to the Cypriots and the rest is all lies which are a matter of interests which have sowed enmity between the two groups.

This situation was in the interest of the English. In 1936 the then Governor of Cyprus sent a letter to London saying that with the passing of time the topic of 'enosis' would weaken and its place would be taken by Cypriot nationalism. "In order to extend our presence on Cyprus", he wrote "we must delay as much as possible the creation of a Cypriot nationalism". Relations were created between the two communities with Greece and Turkey and Greek and Turkish nationalism was imported into the country.

Basically this nationalism affected certain small groups of people which were imposed by force on the two sides, dividing people into Greeks and Turks. People were forced under those pressures to follow those small groups. Besides, that is the norm in such situations. A clandestine organisation can impose itself on a society, however much it may react, through the use of force, killing or ill-treating people. The society is coerced and no one can speak against the organisation. You see people who had initially been against, to suddenly appear to be extreme nationalists. Those are the rules of the game which was also played out in Cyprus.

We must however also consider the following. The English gave Greece the Dodecanese, Crete, they created Greece. After each defeat Greece took over territory as if it had won. All these things were the work of the English. They had furthermore married an English princess to the son of the King of Greece. If it would have benefited the English would it not also have given Cyprus to Greece? And yet, there is movement for the creation of an organisation which would try to achieve 'Enosis'.

Let us not forget however that in agreement with Stalin they had exiled the rebels. We must not forget that the winners of the second world war, England, America and the Soviet Union had carved up the world. Churchill and Stalin divided, in the absence of the Americans, their own areas.

According to this arrangement, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and the Middle East would belong to the English sphere of influence. America on the other hand had created such a great military power that it could no longer withdraw its army and disband it. It wanted to take the Middle East from the English and place it under its own control. In the conflict which followed the Americans tried to use Cyprus against England.

In the meantime Greece had replied negatively to the demand by the Cyprus Church for the creation of an organisation which would fight against the English. The reason was because the areas of interest had been determined and Cyprus belonged to England and if they wanted it would give Cyprus to Greece.

NATO had sections for 'special war' [Gladio] which were created by America with England and which were funded by America. Their aim was to hide guns which in case of Soviet occupation could be used by clandestine resistance groups. The Greek section created EOKA. Later, the corresponding Turkish section took under its influence the TMT which had in the meantime been created.

The whole thing began as a conflict between England and America. America pushed Greece and England put Turkey in the middle. Later England and America sorted things out.

At the NATO summit in Paris, in 1957, Eisenhower suggested to the presidents and the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey the creation of a small new independent state. The one wanted enosis and the other partition and he suggested an independent state. Instead of thinking about it they nearly clashed.

In 1958 the matter of self-determination was again raised. Whenever the matter of self-determination was raised America would maintain a neutral position. However the last time the matter was raised America voted against Greece. After the summit Zorlu approached Averof. Averof described the scene as follows: "I saw Zorlu coming towards me smiling. I thought of punching him twice in the face".

That is where the talks began in February 1957 in Zurich and then in London the matter was closed. As is generally said, these were the games of the Americans and the English.

OK, but if there were not the preconditions, if the communities were not predisposed, would they maybe begin to kill each other?

Therefore, there was a vacuum in the relations of the two communities in order for the English and Americans to be able to become involved with the result that there were so many murders and for the two communities to clash.

The First years of the Republic of Cyprus

The contention that the Cypriot people did not accept the Republic of Cyprus, its independence, is false. I don't know about EOKA, but the TMT which I was a member of, and also many others naturally, believed that the Republic of Cyprus would endure. No one told us that our aim was partition and that we would dissolve the Republic. So much so that while the two communities had the right to keep their English citizenship, so many of us had trusted the new state that very few felt the need to keep their status as English subjects. We had such great confidence that we all took out loans. Myself, my father, my brothers, all our fellow-villagers who had arable land took out loans in order to dig wells, to put in water turbines, and the same was happening in other parts of Cyprus.

I remember that in older days the Turkish Cypriots had difficulties in selling their produce. I remember how my father had to go to Nicosia and beg to sell a sac of almonds to the traders. Many times they would not be bought. The produce would remain unsold at home. But then sales had started to happen. Moreover I remember that the period was marked by the beginning of some intensive cultivation by both sides.

There was also however a reaction against the Republic. There was the conflict between Makarios and a group of people, and of Denktash with another group of people whom Denktash had led.

On the other hand the Turkish ambassador was intensely against any move against the Republic of Cyprus.

There was however a small group of people in each of the communities who did not embrace the Republic of Cyprus.

I do not believe that after independence Makarios still pursued Enosis. However, because he had signed for independence, the supporters of Enosis declared him to be an enemy of Enosis and consequently he was forced to make statements in favour of Enosis. Until 1967/68.

After that he started to state that there can be no Enosis and that he would work for that which was 'realisable'. I believe that what Makarios had aimed for was not Enosis. He only wanted to reduce the rights which had been granted to the Turkish Cypriots.

(Huseyin) We are talking about the 13 points.

There was the issue of separate municipalities, the issue of the need for a separate majority of the Turkish Cypriot community on certain matters, the taxation ...

In reality agreement had been achieved on these topics.

However, because of the information which Georgadjis was providing to Makarios in relation to TMT Makarios did not sign the agreement. When he did not sign the agreement and the 13 points were published that which followed happened.

If you ask me how it happened, I will tell you that I don't know.

(Huseyin) How did you experience the events?

At that time I was at Fota. While we should have been informed that in Nicosia the guns had been dug-out, that things were dangerous and for an alarm to be issued, none of these things had happened, and we had no idea about what was happening.

While they were taking out the guns and distributing them to left and right ... there were armed people circulating in the Greek Cypriot quarter ... I learned of these things many years after 1963/64, that is that on the 15th or 30th November the guns had been dug-out in Nocosia, that the guns were given to people that were not correctly trained ... and that the same thing was happening on both sides.

Both sides were equally to blame for things which followed, since both sides had been giving guns to people who were not trained.

Someone pressed the trigger, I don't know on which of the side that was ... the other side one way or another was ready ... that is how the bad things happened and we ended up where we did.

The intercommunal clashes and the Inonu letter

During the first days of the armed clashes no one could remain on the other side. Rafik-Bey and Niyazi-Bey remained ... and what happened? Were they able to keep their places? They were not able to. The one was the second in command of the police and the other the commander of the gendarmerie. They were not killed, but they were removed from their positions. But we can not claim that our own people did not wish to withdraw.

There is in relation to this the letter by Ismet-Pasa [Mustafa İsmet İnönü]. Dated 9th March 1964. Before the decision was taken, on 4th March, Ismet-Pasa had made an agreement with the English and with the United Nations, that the Republic of Cyprus was the state which was created in 1960. In order for the Republic of Cyprus to function the Turkish Cypriot state employees should return to their posts, and the members of parliament, and state officials, and that people should return to the villages they had fled from. That is how constitutional order would be restored.

After that agreement Ismet-Pasa sent Dr Küçük a long letter which you can read in my book, telling him the Turkish Cypriots should return to their duties. We learnt of this many years later when Denktash wrote his memoirs. Denktash did not however write that agreement had been reached. This became known when the English archives were published. In other words that there had been an agreement between Ismet-Pasa and England.

On 10th March Dr Küçük sent a reply letter to Ismet-Pasa saying that "we will not return, it is dangerous, they will kill us ... if however you insist you must grant us the right of asylum ... so that as many Turkish Cypriots as wish to leave Cyprus should be able to do so. If however we do take it upon ourselves to leave what will become of our cause? We will lose our cause ..."

What was the cause he was speaking of? This was likely to have been that of partition.

Within the context of the agreement previously reached, America was making preparations to intervene on the island and was in consultation with the English. The English told America that they should not be in a hurry to intervene because Dr Küçük wanted partition and that they would not return to the Republic. In the end it became understood that there was not to be a return and that is where things remained.

If our people had listened to Ismet-Pasa the situation would have ended there. Naturally this was not something which Makarios had agreed to. That was however the agreement between two of the guarantor powers with America and the United Nations which our people had made irrelevant in order that they should not return to the Republic and in order to achieve Partition.

TMT is placed entirely under the control of Turkey

I can not know the extent to which certain others may have had different instructions, however according to the orders I had from TMT the struggle we had been engaged in after those events had happened was not in order to cause Turkey to intervene, but for our autonomy, and that we had to act accordingly.

I don't know if anything had happened which we had not been told about, because the organisation was placed under the Special War Office in Turkey. The Turkish Cypriots however had never been able to communicate with the Turkish officers. At some point they rebelled and some of them went and betrayed their colleagues ... Bairaktaris organised special teams and opposed Kemal Semi until he was expelled from the organisation. In other words they divided us into two ... our own stupidity ...

On the other side there was also division with EOKA B and I don't know what else ...

Once they had separated out those who believed that Cypriots should rule, they used the others who were opposed to Kemal Semi who had led the movement. Kemal Semi was the commander of Nicosia. He never allowed the Turkish officers to give instructions to the Turkish Cypriots.

In 1964 I was relieved of my duties and in my place they brought officers from Turkey. I felt that they would also get rid of Kemal Semi. I had never hid that I did not want Turkey to come to rule us or for us to be placed under orders from the Turkish officers. My position was known. From the position I held previously I had under my command a powerful armed group. When they got rid of me no one opened their mouth. Lets leave all that however, there is considerable dirt ...

In summary things happened as follows. They got rid of Kemal Semi and none of his close colleagues opened their mouth. I had warned all of them. I had told them that all those things were happening so they could get rid of Kemal Semi and that they had to be careful because after they get rid of Kemal Semi they would also get clipped and that after that the Turks would take everything in their hands. Unfortunately they didn't listen to me. In that way Turkey in 1964 placed the armed forces under its control, whereas previously the armed forces had been under [Turkish] Cypriot control.

The Turkish officers had no right of contact with the armed forces since these were controlled by [Turkish] Cypriots. In 1964 they made things as they wanted them to be. They brought many officers from Turkey and thus subjugated the Turkish Cypriots.

The [Greek] coup and the invasion of 1974

That which happened in 1974 was expected. It is true that EOKA B was created by [the junta of mainland] Greece who had sent Grivas to Cyprus, and Turkey had no objection about this. The given scenario on our side was that they would assassinate Makarios, something they had attempted to do a number of times before the coup, when they fired at his helicopter etc. They would assasinate Makarios and put Clerides in his place who would sign the agreement which Makarios refused to sign. That is what was being whispered on our side. I don't know the extent to which that scenario was real. The reality is that there were attempts against Makarios.

Suddenly, while we were not expecting it, the coup happened.

It was clear that Turkey would intervene.

They thought that Ecevit was a true pacifist, that he was a true leftist, that he was full of love for humanity. They thought he would intervene to restore constitutional order and that the two communities would thus be rid of the problem and would not in future easily quarrel.

Things however did not happen like that. We saw what the outcome was.

The Soviet support of Turkey

I will tell you something else you don't know. It is generally said that Turkey invaded Cyprus with America's support. The first invasion happened with the support of the Soviets. I don't know the reason why. It is however clear that when Turkey decided to intervene it contacted the Soviets and the ambassador of the Soviet Union asked the then President of the Republic of Turkey whether Cyprus would continue after the invasion to be a member of the movement of non-aligned nations. When he received a positive answer, he gave his approval for the intervention.

Strange things happened.

Turkey did not have sufficient fuel for its aircraft. It asked Bulgaria to help. Someone who worked for the Turkish embassy in Bulgaria wrote a book in which he describes this. He says that the ambassador was given instructions by Ankara to ask the Bulgarians for fuel for the aircraft. The ambassador was puzzled. How could he ask for something like that and not be shown the door? He met the foreign minister of Bulgaria and conveyed Ankara's request to him. He asked him to wait a while, and he must have communicated with the Soviets and when he returned he told the ambassador to tell Ankara to send a petrol tanker. The ambassador informed Ankara and Ankara told him that they should provide the ship. Turkey did not have a petrol tanker to transport the fuel. This time the ambassador was really worried. He conveyed the request which was accepted.

This was a clear signal of support. I don't know the reason.

(Huseyin) You didn't learn the reason?

No.

That is with reference to the first invasion.

After that America became involved.

The Turkish army is a NATO army

(America) told Turkey that it can land as much force as they want. It is not a secret that the Turkish army is a NATO army and that Turkey is here as a NATO army.

I don't know if you read this in the Afrika newspaper, but when the Prime Minister or President of Turkey was Turgut Ozal he had a Cypriot advisor, Boulent Semiler. He told us about the event and allowed us to publish it.

They had visited America and met President Bush, the father. Bush said to Ozal: "You warned me and I did not invade Iraq. It was a very poignant warning and I thank you for that. I would like to repay you. You can ask me for anything you want and I will do it for you."

Ozal answered him saying: "I want you to save me from the Cyprus problem. I do not want to leave on Cyprus even the 650 soldiers. I am ready to withdraw the entire army but just save me from this torture."

The Secretary General of NATO, and later Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whose name escapes me just now, intervened saying: "Turgut note my words" ... he spoke like that because he knew Turgut Ozal from the days when he had worked in America. "You" he said, "are not in Cyprus to protect the Turkish Cypriots. Your army is a NATO army and it is there for NATO. If you want to withdraw it tell us and we will bring other forces from Australia, Canada and other countries."

In other words when they close their eyes to the illegalities done here by Turkey, they do it because of their own interests. You must naturally know that the guarantor countries have also guaranteed the English bases. Lets not forget that.

[Ends]

The same video as above, is available at the Youtube profile of Huseyin Halil who conducted the interview, spoken in Turkish, with Greek subtitles.

Readers of this item are urged to also look at the very considerable archive of other videos available at that profile.

Arif Hasan Tahsin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsTmIa6cSRw

-------------------------------

In view of the above fascinating interview with Arif Hasan Tahsin, it would be very illuminating if someone would be so kind as to make a translation into English of the comments by him during the following discussion in the NTV discussion about the significance of the recent massive Turkish Cypriot demonstrations against Turkey's Cyprus policies. Posting a link to such a translation into English in the comments section below, should one become available, would be particularly appreciated.

http://video.ntvmsnbc.com/mirgun-cabasla-her-sey-7-subat-2011.html

Şener Elcil KTOS - Turkish Cypriots demos planned at the EU against Turkeys Cyprus policy

2011-03-21T14:38:00.005Z

Spoken in Turkish with Greek subtitles - Secretary General of the KTOS Turkish Cypriot Teachers' Union Şener Elcil provided a retrospective analysis about the massive demonstrations by Turkish Cypriots against Turkey's policies on Cyprus, explained the existence of plans for further demonstrations in Turkish-occupied Cyprus, possibly on 25.03.2011, and also outlined the existence of plans for future actions at the European Union.

CyBC bi-lingual program, Biz Emeis 15/03/2011.

See also:

"Another massive Turkish Cypriot demonstration 02.03.2011 - a blow to Turkey"
http://aspectsofreality.blogspot.com/2011/03/another-massive-turkish-cypriot.html

Also:
"The ‘problem of Turkey’ in Cyprus by LEVENT KÖKER"
http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=238197

Translation of the interview in the video above into English was made from the Greek subtitles:

Introductions: In the studio today we have a very significant guest, Mr Şener Elcil, Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union KTOS who will be talking with our journalists Christodoulos and Huseyin about the events which are taking place in the north in relation to the demonstrations about existence and survival of the Turkish Cypriot community

(Huseyin) At the demonstration on 28th January the Turkish Cypriots had filled Inonu Square near the Kyrenia Gate. During the demonstration of 2nd March the Square was spilling over with people, thus giving the best possible answer to those who spoke about the Turkish Cypriots as a "handfull of people". In order to assess that demonstration and what has followed we now have with us the General Secretary of KTOS, Mr Şener Elcil.

How do you assess the demonstration?

(SE) The second demonstration about existence and social survival of the Turkish Cypriot community was held on 2nd March and in our estimation there was more enthusiasm with more people participating in it and it was of a better quality than the first one (on January 28th). The slogans, banners and speeches were, I believe, more impressive. In the time which has passed since then there has been no reaction from the Turkish government. On the contrary we see a rhetoric developing that allegedly the organisers of the demonstration do not have any preconceptions against Turkey's policies. Beyond that, the other day there was in the south, in Anatolia near Anamur, a ceremony during which the foundation stone was laid for the Alakioprou Dam. This was not a chance happening, it happened in a planned way. During this ceremony Mr Erdogan and the officials of his government made statements praising the Turkish Cypriot community. This shows that in contrast to the first demonstration, they now approach the situation in a more mature and careful manner, trying to show the actions of the Turkish Cypriots in a positive light. They had invited officials of our leadership to Turkey for closed-door meetings on what measures should be taken to extinguish the fire which had been lit.

With reference to the demonstration, we did not have any problems. The demonstration took place in a very mature fashion. We are democratic organisations and we want to continue our struggle to the end in a completely democratic framework. If however our officials and also the government of Turkey ignore this time also the reactions of the Turkish Cypriots by the end of these mobilisations it will no longer be possible to prevent the outbreak of public rage. The reason I say this is that we react individually to something which is expected of the other side to take into account our reactions. Speaking about large totals, and this is the meaning of democracy - the people are called out into the squares for a demonstration or a rally. If the other side continues to behave as if there is no problem, that is when a problem arises. Consequently, in subsequent mobilisations, if the same mentality prevails, if the peoples' reaction continues to be ignored, then people will not tolerate it and we will not be able to hold back the peoples' reactions. People are really full of anger, but the other side does not take this reaction on board.

(Christodoulos) Before the 2nd and larger demonstration which took place on 2nd March there had been threatening statements and reactions by Turkey, and specifically by Mr Erdogan. It seems as if these created a boomerang effect. These threats, these harsh statements he made resulted in half the population attending the demonstration which happened. As you now told us, Turkey is trying with a different approach - you told us about the transportation of water etc - is he trying with his statements to throw ash in the eyes of the Turkish Cypriots? In some way to calm them down, to placate them in order to stop them going out onto the streets?

(SE) That is a correct appraisal. An effort is being made to downgrade this reaction. In our opinion they will take some initiatives of an economic nature, such as to bring water from Turkey. They will take certain measures to relax somewhat the measures they are imposing. The aim is to reduce this political reaction. Besides, they have from the start adopted the rhetoric that this was an economic and not a political reaction which was being put forward by the Turkish Cypriots. This was not a correct rhetoric. Consequently the tactics being followed are intended to put out the fire which was lit and to deflect the reaction by the Turkish Cypriots. That is what they will pursue and that is why they have followed these tactics from the start. In other words they developed the rhetoric that this was all about a marginal group, that the largest part of the Turkish Cypriot community do not think in this way, that allegedly the Turkish Cypriot community thinks differently. These tactics hark back to the mentality of divide and rule as it had been implemented by the British. As helpers of the British, they use the same methods.

The packages involved and the political impositions are still in force, and nothing has changed. They tricked us during the decades of the 50s, 60s, 70s ... they did the same during the decades of the 80s, 90s and 2000 with the Annan Plan and the procedure which followed. Now again they are trying to fool us. We believe that the majority of the people see this. The Turkish Cypriots in the north have ended up being a minority in our own home. We know the real aim of Turkey and of the Turkish leadership. We know they are implementing the policy of absorbing us and assimilating us. That is why there has been the uprising by the community which is now waiting.

The trade union platform will brief the community in the next few days about the strategy we will follow.

(Huseyin) Whom are the messages which were delivered during the demonstration aimed at? There are many contentions regarding this.

(SE) We prepared an announcement which consistes of 13 points. These contain all our demands. The primary aim involves our self-governance. We do not want to be hostages of Turkey. This is crystal clear. Secondly, we demand a solution based on the resolutions of the United Nations. We want a bizonal bicommunal solution. Let us talk about practical matters - we in the north have been reduced to a minority. We demand that there should urgently take place a population census in the north with the presence of foreign observers. We do not know what our total population is, and so there must be a count. When we get the final figures there will then need to be a proper regulation of the fields of education, health and other sectors. The most important message we wish to convey through the demonstration consists of two aspects: the one is that we want our self-governance, and the second is that we want a solution based on federation as soon as possible.

(Huseyin) What will follow now? You have given leeway until 25th March. What will happen after that? Will this movement also find expression in the 'Parliament'?

(SE) We continue our demonstrations. The strikes in the "courts" and other "authorities" have been continuing for over 50 days now. At 12 today there is a meeting of the platform to decide whether the strikes will be extended to the electricity authority. In the coming days the north may be plunged into darkness. The day we had our demonstration "the government" took the decision that they will continue with the privatisations. This means they completely ignored the demonstration. This means they have not taken on board the demands of the people. As a result it is inevitable that the platform will organise a further demonstration. The platform will decide whether the schools will support the demonstration. We will however continue our demonstrations until 25th March. If by then "the government" does not withdraw the packages, or does not resign, then the measures will be stepped up. An issue will also arise about whether there should be more mass demonstrations in front of the building of the " Parliament".

We are also considering transferring our demonstrations to the international level. We are in process of organising meetings at the end of this month with institutions of the European Union, firstly with the Enlargement Commissioner, the President of the European Parliament and the Education Commissioner. We are also planning a demonstration outside the European Parliament to protest Turkey's policies on Cyprus. We are making relevant enquiries in order to obtain permission for this demonstration. We are also arranging meetings with representatives of the parties at the European Parliament - with the social democrats, the conservatives of the European People's Party, the left wing and the greens. We want to have demonstrations in Europe because since 2004 Cyprus has become EU territory. In the north the European Acquis Communautaire does not apply and is suspended. We Turkish Cypriots are however European citizens of the Union. It is not acceptable for the European Union to be ignoring our existence and to allow our destruction consequent to the policies being pursued by Turkey on Cyprus. Among our demands is that the Acquis Communautaire should apply in the north and for Europe to play an effective role because we also are European citizens. If we consider the north to be European territory, then the European Union must protect us through their mechanisms. If however they do not consider us to be European territory let them say that to us clearly and we will then have to consider what we will do. We will place these matters on the agenda at our own demonstrations which will continue.

(Huseyin) What was the morale of the people you spoke to, after the demonstration?

(SE) People continue to show their reactions. If we call on the people again, they will come. If their reaction however is ignored by the officials who continue to act with an attitude of 'we are doing the right things and we will continue' the reaction and rage of the people will be greater. It will not be possible for us then to hold them back. This is what we are trying to stress. It is constructive when democratic organisations convey their reactions through democratic means. If however there is not mutuality, then there comes a moment when the reaction exceeds democratic confines. That is what we are seeing happening nowadays in Egypt, Libya, in Tunisia and in all the Arab world. This reaction is caused when the leaders refuse to hear the voice of the people and insist on doing their own thing. Here we have a similar situation and we are facing a similar situation. Apathy to the reaction of the people causes even bigger reactions.

(Charalambos) Another very relevant factor in my opinion, is that at the same time there have been similar demonstrations also happening abroad, by Turkish Cypriots. This is a development which, in my opinion the platform itself did not adequately use. I consider this a very positive element - something which I feel, I may be wrong on this, something which in my opinion could have been used much more by the platform itself - there were demonstrations in Turkey itself, in England. A development which the platform could have exploited better.

(SE) With the exception of 'the south' in Cyprus, demonstrations did take place by Turkish Cypriots in Turkey, in London, and in other places. There were demonstrations, press releases were sent to the media. If we do want a solution in Cyprus, if we really do want a federation, then it is not only the Turkish Cypriots who should be taking to the streets. When 70,000 people out of a total of 130,000 take to the streets this creates a world record. In Egypt there are 80 million people and only 1 million people took part in the demonstrations. In other words, one in 80. While among 130,000 Turkish Cypriots there were 70,000 who took to the streets. What is very significant for us is that voices should be raised in favour of a solution, for the reunification of the island, the desire for a federation and a solution on the basis of the parametres of the United Nations. That is what we expect the Greek Cypriots to do. If they stand at our side we believe a much stronger message will be provided in favour of a solution.

At this point I would like to tell you that the dependence of the Turkish Cypriots constitutes a mistake on the part of the Greek Cypriots. As long as we are isolated by the administration, as long as we have difficulties in exrecising some of our rights as citizens then the more dependent we become on Turkey. It is a situation we have been experiencing from 1963 until today. So I would also like to pass a message to the Greek Cypriot community. They must accept us as politically equal Cypriots.

(Chistodoulos) We agree on this entirely, and I clarify this point and stress that I agree entirely by saying that the Greek Cypriots must stand by the Turkish Cypriots in a more dynamic way. I would however like to ask my friend Şener a question - how could they, or how would you Turkish Cypriots want the Greek Cypriots to mobilise themselves? What is that which would make you say "Bravo, now we feel good because the Greek Cypriots are at our side"? What is the message you would like to send out, through this program if you like, to the Greek Cypriots that "we want you to do this for us"? For this country, not just for us?

(SE) Until 2004, during the period of the Annan plan, we had five large demonstrations. Our basic aim was to achieve a solution of the Cyprus problem, a federal solution and the accession of the whole of Cyprus to the European Union. During that period there was no reaction on the part of the Greek Cypriot side. There was no mass demonstration. At this time we in the north are trying to achieve, as soon as possible, a federal solution. Our demonstrations are fundamentally taking place for political and not economic reasons.

In our area it is the politics which create the economy. In this country it is the politics and the solution which determine the future. The economy depends on these. When we raise our voices in the north, when we mobilise tens of thousands of people in our squares, a simultaneous reaction in the south would give us more strength. This would show the whole world that the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots want the reunification of our island, that we don't want armies and armaments on the island. That we don't want to have armies and armaments on the island. That we want to abilish the borders. That we want to live together in brotherhood on this island. These are for us significant messages.

So that I am not misunderstood, I am not asking of the Greek Cypriots that they should participate in our mobilisations. In any case, Erdogan is trying to throw mud at us saying that the Greek Cypriots are funding us and that they are taking part in our demonstrations and that that is why they are so massive.

What we are saying is that in order for there to be a solution there must be an uprising on both sides. One nice proverb says: the dove of peace can not fly on one wing. It needs two wings. If the Turkish Cypriots are one wing the other wing is the Greek Cypriots. We have to fly this bird together. This is the message I wish to convey.

On the contrary I see that in the south they are involved in the elections. The electioneering dominates the atmosphere. The elections will come and go, but they will always be there. This is a process which harms all of Cyprus.

(Huseyin) If there were no elections now, do you believe that what you are saying could happen? Do you believe something like that could happen? Lets talk openly. You have contacts with the Greek Cypriot unions ... what answer do you get from them?

(SE) The Greek Cypriot unions are detached from politics. We see that they maintain strong relations with the political parties and they are involved in politics under the guidance of the political parties. Things are different in the Turkish Cypriot community. We as unions have our own decision making mechanisms and we have our effect on the political parties. So it is not the political parties which determine the policies.

(Huseyin) This is apparent. The political parties follow the trade union platform.

(SE) With the political parties getting the votes and entering parliament nothing changes. The Cyprus problem will continue to exist. As long as the Cyprus problem exists all Cypriots will continue to suffer. The Cyprus problem must be solved as soon as possible for the wound to heal.

(Christodoulos) As we only have a few minutes left, I would like us to end with a message for the Greek Cypriots but also the Turkish Cypriots.

(SE) I believe that the Turkish Cypriot community is carrying out its duty. As unions we continue in a determined fashion to guide the Turkish Cypriot community towards peace and towards a solution and to cultivate the perception of our own ability to govern ourselves. The Greek Cypriot community must give the messages that would help us. When we, for example are involved in a demonstration, a mass demonstration in the south would be a great support to us. Something like that would show that all Cypriots want a federal solution and that they want to live together in brotherhood. For something like that to happen all the social partners, the society of citizens, the unions, the political parties must set up a common goal. They must put aside the competitiveness and work in the same direction. Our basic problem is the existence of the Cyprus problem. The solution will be of benefit to all Cypriots.

(Christodoulos) We hope everything will go very well. The Greek Cypriots must indeed stand more dynamically at the side of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots ... and I will say something else, even though I don't know how this will sound and how it will be understood ... if certain Greek Cypriots show the same passion as they do about the issue of immigration and of the foreigners, whom they want to get rid of for their own political reasons ... if they showed half of that passion for a true reconciliation then everything would be much better in this country. Many thanks.

(Huseyin) Many thanks. Are you planning any demonstrations for the 25th of March?

(SE) At this time we are still at the planning stage. There is transparency regarding the demonstrations which we have organised. People are informed accordingly. We do not intend to take decisions behind closed doors. We walk together with the people. The people will always be kept informed. Through the mass media you can all remain informed about everything.

(Huseyin) Thank you.

(Christodoulos) And this programme is always at your side. Many thanks.

See also:
"Sener Elcil - UN and EU officials turn blind eye to Turkey's settler policy in Cyprus"
Translation into English of CyBC 'Biz Emeis' bilingual program on 16/09/2010 of an interview with General Secretary of KTOS Sener Elcil. Mr Elcil is also a member of the Executive Committee of ETUCE (European Trade Union Committee for Education) and is a founder member of "This Country is Ours" Movement in Cyprus.
http://aspectsofreality.blogspot.com/2010/09/serer-ercil-un-and-eu-officials-turn.html

See also:
the English translation of an Interview (17th May 2010) with Izzet Izcan, Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot political party "United Cyprus", about the outcome of the 'elections' in Turkish-occupied Cyprus in April 2010 which resulted in Dervis Eroglu taking over leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community from Mehmet Ali Talat.
"Izzet Izcan - Turkey threatens Cypriots with annihilation"
http://aspectsofreality.blogspot.com/2010/05/izzet-izcan-turkey-threatens-cypriots.html

facebook.com/Ktos68

Turkish Cypriot Communal Survival Rally - 02.03.2011 - Toplumsal Varoluş Mitingi

2011-03-21T13:43:00.001Z

Spoken in Turkish with Greek subtitles, this is a documentary by the bilingual "Κατω απο τον ιδιο Ουρανο - Ayni gokyuzu Altinda" program, about the largest ever peace and reunification demonstration by the Turkish Cypriot community held on 02.03.2011 - which was a follow up to the General Strike and the demonstration held on 28.01.2011 to protest the economic and immigration policies being imposed by Turkey on their community.

See also the photos and video on the blog post on 2nd March 2011:
Another massive Turkish Cypriot demonstration 02.03.2011 - a blow to Turkey

For the previous background see also the video and English translation of the interview provided by one of the main organisers of the General Strike and demonstration, Mr Sener Elcil as Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union, and the inks provided at:

http://aspectsofreality.blogspot.com/2011/02/sener-elcil-ktos-turkish-cypriot-demo.html

This item was broadcast on 10.02.2011 by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.

The spoken content of this documentary is in process of being translated into English, and will be provided here once that process is completed. when the task is completed.

The video provided below provides the news coverage from CyBC (Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation about the days events.

Another massive Turkish Cypriot demonstration 02.03.2011 - a blow to Turkey

2011-03-02T15:34:00.006Z

Turkish Cypriots today 02.03.2011 staged a demonstration more massive than the one held on 28.01.2011, and here - with an attendance this morning of between 50,000 and 70,000 people at Nicosia's Inonu Square, which represents an equivalent to 50 MILLION Egyptians protesting at Tahrir Square (if one takes population numbers in proportion)!

But of course the mainstream media ... won't mention THIS demonstration! Any comments regarding the mainstream media's non-coverage of Turkish Cypriot MASSIVE demonstrations against Turkey? !

Strong support and solidarity is hereby expressed to the Jasmin Movement in Cyprus, and to all the thousands of people that were on the streets this morning, but also the fact that in addition to activities at the demonstration we had, through facebook, the first reports on the morning's events via Zeki Beşiktepeli's profile, with the following photo uploads:

And comments about the above photos received via:
http://www.cyprus-forum.com/viewtopic.php?p=659720#659720

An intersting sign.

Rough translation from top to bottom.

1. In the 1960 Republic of Cyprus
2. I have rights
3. I have an Identity
4. I have a Passport
5. Our money stolen by Turkey (TC = Turkiye Cumhuriyet)

Video of the security forces removing demonstrators of the Jasmine movement who were flying the Cyprus flag during the massive 50,000 to 70,000 people demonstration at Inonu Square in Turkish occupied Cyprus 02.03.2011 ...

http://webtv.hurriyet.com.tr/2/14311/0/1/kibris-ta-olayli-miting.aspx
"KIBRIS'TA OLAYLI MİTİNG

More photos at:

http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/35/news/48607/PageName/KIBRIS_HABERLERI

... and for those who do have a Facebook profile ...

ANKARA'DAN gELEN PAKETE VE POLİTKALARA KARŞI II March 2, 2011

By Kıbrıs Türk Öğretmenler Sendikası

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51519&id=1851891203&fbid=1449434336480

Şener Elcil KTOS - the Turkish Cypriot demo on 2nd March will be bigger than 28.01.2011

2011-02-28T01:11:00.000Z

CyBC bi-lingual program spoken in Turkish with Greek subtitles, Biz Emeis 25/02/2011 featured an interview with Şener Elcil, Secretary General of the KTOS Turkish Cypriot Teachers' Union.

The intreview was about the massive 28th January demonstration seeking to ensure the continuing existence of the Turkish Cypriot community, and about his views on the reactions in the Turkish Cypriot community to the statements made by Turkish premier Erdogan. There is to be a second mass demonstration by Turkish Cypriots on 2nd March 2011.

Click to view this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgXdktsnkzE

TRANSLATION FROM THE GREEK SUBTITLES

    Introduction: The echoes from the demonstration held on 28th January 2011 organised by the Trade Union Platform. The insulting words directed at Turkish Cypriots by Turkish Prime Minister Tayiip Erdogan raised tension levels between the Turkish Cypriot community and the Turkish Government. In order to make an assessment tonight we have here with us the Secretary General of the KTOS Teachers' Union, Mr Şener Elcil. Welcome ...

    .. in the conversation we had in the studio before the 28th January demonstration (see video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0xlo33vmbs ) you had said that you expected massive participation by the people. In the time that has elapsed since then there have been significant developments. In your view, did the 28th January demonstration achieve its purposes, and to what extent?

    SE: I would like first of all to thank you. The demonstration did achieve its purpose. We have no doubt on that. Our purpose was to project the reaction of our community to the impositions and to stress that the Turkish Cypriots will not capitulate to them. I want to tell you that your program is very effective. It has widespread viewership in 'the north', particularly among certain circles. We are receiving considerable criticism because of your program and we have become targets of charges that we take instructions and money from Mr Christofias in having organised these demonstrations and that we use this program for our propaganda.

    We don't need to do propaganda.

    The community in 'the south' and in 'the north' knows us, it knows our views. We are not doing something in secret and our actions are visible to the people ...

    (Q) ... Excuse my interrupting ... they say that when it is your enemies who are accusing you, it must be a sign that you are doing something right.

    (SE) That's right ... as per the Turkish proverb - they throw stones at the fruit-bearing trees.

    We are doing our duty - we are trying to open the way for our community and we stress that the future of our country is ensured through peace and reunification and not with war.

    This is our basic aim. We are teachers. A teacher is a social being. Our duty is not to just go to class to teach, but our duty is to be interested in matters beyond our schools, to social problems, to help solve problems which are faced by our society and act in areas where we need to develop policy. That is what we are trying to do.

    (Q) After the demonstration the Turkish Prime Minister, Tayiip Erdogan caused intense reactions through the insulting statements he made. Certain circles are trying to soften these reactions. What is the current situation?

    (SE) Mr Erdogan has shown his real face. We have been saying this for a long time, that Mr Erdogan does not want a solution to the Cyprus issue. He appears to want a solution but he pushes things towards non-solution. On the other hand he is constantly placing obstacles in the procedures which could help the Turkish Cypriots take their fate in their own hands. On the one hand he tries to increase dependence of 'the north' with the mass influx of population from Turkey, particularly after the year 2000. Today an issue exists about 'naturalising' them ... in the 'parliamentary' session in 'the north' two days ago it was said that 250,000 persons are waiting to be 'naturalised'. In addition. Mr Erdogan encourages the large inflows of capital which is associated with him to be moved and invested in 'the north'. All this is not the result of a consciousness which wishes for a solution, but of a consciousness which aims at the conversion of 'the north' into a colony.

    Consequently, the comments by Mr Erdogan, five days after the demonstration, essentially show his real face and real feelings about the Turkish Cypriots. He calls us “kept parasites”.

    Turkey came to the island on the pretext that it was protecting the Turkish Cypriots. But it is using us to make politics, as it did with the agreements for the Republic of Cyprus in '60, and on the other hand it is trying to sideline us.

    I see that the Erdogan reactions and those of AKP officials who are expressing themselves offensively and who insult Turkish Cypriots provoke stronger reactions in our community.

    We are struggling to be able to become masters in our own lands, to be able ourselves to govern us.

    We are not struggling in order to become puppets or employees of Mr Erdogan.

    We expect our political will to be respected.

    We are not struggling for the money.

    We are not struggling for economic reasons.

    I want to stress this.

    If I judge on the basis of the voices I hear from 'the south', there is an emergent view that the mobilisations of the Turkish Cypriots are aimed at money or other economic benefits. Such a view is entirely wrong.

    (Q) A neutral third party observer of the situation might, and please do correct me if I am wrong, conclude that there are among certain Turkish Cypriot circles those who in one way or another undermine your struggle, and if you want me to be more specific I would say that there are certain columnists in Turkish Cypriot newspapers (and I could provide you with names if asked) who present the view that the Turkish Cypriots (after the Erdogan statements) will be intimidated, will be frightened to take to the streets. Is it like that?

    (SE) That does not apply. As I can here now talk comfortably, and in 'the north' people do speak freely - the Turkish Cypriots are protecting their democratic freedom in the best possible way.

    (Q) I'll express it differently and clarify what I meant, which I may have not expressed clearly. Some columnists who are opposed to your struggle are trying to convince readers that following Erdogan's threats, the people who had taken to the streets on the 28th of January will not come out now. That they will stay in their homes. And we must say this -- even in AFRIKA ... lets say things with names ... there are such articles appearing.

    (SE) I must say to you that I have exactly the opposite impression. With his offensive speech, Mr Erdogan has prompted even people who had not talked until today, to take to the streets. As a result, the demonstration on 2nd March will be larger and more impressive than the demonstration which took place on 28th January. Certain people naturally, constantly, try to prevent the demonstration taking place. Certain political parties in 'the north' ... following his visit to Ankara Mr Talat stated that the tones should be lowered, as if he had taken on the role of the fireman ... and there are other political parties such as that ... they circulate rumours that there will be attacks against the demonstrators, that there will be transfers from Turkey of special action units and policemen ... these are rumours which are intended to intimidate our people. We are fed up with such rumours.

    We are determined to defend our democratic rights to the end.

    We expect the same also of the Greek Cypriot community.

    We go out to the squares and we have two basic demands. One: that we should ourselves govern our place, Two: that a solution is found as soon as possible for Cyprus to be reunited.

    It is very significant for the Greek Cypriots to also go out into the streets, to demonstrate their desire for a solution. This will give a very positive message to the whole world. There is no sense for only one side to want a solution. The large organisations of the Greek Cypriots, they could for example, organise for the same time as ours, a demonstration at Eleftheria (Liberation) Square or somewhere else. This would give a very significant message to the world. What I am talking about does not need to be coordinated. The organisations of the two sides can simply express a common will regarding this matter.

    I am not asking my Greek Cypriot comrades and compatriots to come to 'the north' to support us. We can marshall the masses. What is significant is that they also activate the masses, so we can project the common will for a solution, the reunification of Cyprus and of Cyprus being governed by Cypriots without foreign impositions.

    (Q) Speaking with Turkish Cypriots, most of them are somewhat upset that there has not been support ... the simple statements do not provide some security to the Turkish Cypriots ... you as the Trade Union Platform are struggling for Cyprus. Do you not feel alone in this struggle?

    (SE) The Turkish Cypriot community has always struggled ... it has never ceased to struggle. Even if we are numerically small, we never stopped struggling. I believe we will also have the support from the international community because our struggle is just. As we have seen, even if only symbolically we have been supported also by the Greek Cypriot comrades. But this is not enough. As in the past, so today we continue our struggle to the best of our abilities. Our struggle is not a new one. For many years now the Teachers Union and a team of progressive people have been struggling for many years, for the future of the Turkish Cypriot community, and for a solution, for peace in our country. This loneliness is not something new for us. We see however that every day increases ever more the number of people who understand and support us within the international community and in Cyprus.

    (Q) So, Teacher - on the 2nd of March you expect a larger turn out by the people. Do you feel that the squares are able to hold you all?

    (SE) On the 28th January the square was not big enough for us all. When one wants to gather the whole world in one place there is no square which will be large enough. It doesn't matter if the squares are not big enough to hold all of us. Our aim is that the people should come to demonstrate their reaction. Our reaction regards the governance of the Turkish Cypriots by the governments of Turkey. We stress this. Enough already of this abuse, the insults and swearing at us. We want to recover our democratic rights and to enjoy the political rights equally with the Greek Cypriots. We don't want to live any longer in isolation from the rest of the world. We want our children and our grandchildren to live better days in this place, in a reunited Cyprus.

    (Q) What happens if ... you said earlier that there are statements to intimidate, that they have threatened to bring forces from Turkey, etc, etc ... what if these are not just threats, what happens if they don't just stay on threats and if they actually go ahead. If there is even a provocation during the whole story? Have you anticipated this? What are your thoughts?

    (SE) We have for many years lived under exceptional circumstances. In 'the north' there are 45-50,000 soldiers. In such an environment it would be easy to cause provocations during a demonstration. This matter is always on the agenda. We constantly reappraise the situation. We have experiences and we always seek solutions on how to prevent such a possibility.

    In the past, they have placed a bomb at Inonou Square ... in 2002. We defused it. We were prepared for every possible provocation.

    (Q) Has the matter of banners been discussed? What slogans will the banners have which will be used by the platform? Will there be flags?

    (SE) We do not consider it right to exploit national symbols at demonstrations. We are opposed to any flag at the demonstrations. We consider that ... exploitation. The message we want to convey is crystal clear.

    We do not intend to demonstrate who is the most nationalist, or otherwise.

    We have suffered a lot and we suffer still from the nationalisms and the racisms.

    As a platform we declare that we do not consider it right to take nationalist emblems to the squares.

    As far as the banners are concerned - people are expressing their opinions and their emotions in two ways - verbally and in writing with banners. We do not consider it right to limit people's freedom of expression. We decided as a platform that there is to be no restriction on the carrying of banners during the demonstration as long as it is not of an offensive nature. We do not however consider it right that banners should be displayed that would divert the demonstration from its main aim. We have experienced this in the past. Consequently there is no restrictions on expression provided it takes place in a civilised manner.

    (Q) As far as flags are concerned ...

    (SE) We are against the use of national symbols. Whoever brings a flag will cause us to react appropriately.

    (Q) I want to ask also about the measures to restrict some of your strike actions ....

    (SE) The administration in 'the north' went on a visit to Ankara where the taking of certain measures was discussed. In 'the north' opposition is by certain unions. Most political parties have been completely marginalised. Yet others need approval from Ankara before they can wield positions of authority. Unions do not depend on the vote, so they can look to the future. That is why we are struggling.

    We know that certain measures have been taken. One of these was the suspension of strikes and was in fact based on a ruling from the days of British colonialism, of 1939. Those who bad-mouth the British administration now use the regulations of that era to suspend the strikes at three schools for two months. Yesterday in Nicosia we had a warning strike, in the schools, we protested. Today we have a strike in another school. Tomorrow in more schools. We will continue our struggle.



    (Q) All the things we see happening, in Egypt, in Libya and in other countries, how do they affect your struggle? Do you see them as an example, do they form yet another reinforcement to your struggle?

    (SE) In Libya, in Bahrain, in Tunisia, in Egypt ... in many places in the Arab world people are revolting in order to acquire democratic rights. Where there is a democratic deficit, where dictatorial and autocratic regimes exist and where there are no democratic rights people are revolting. If people try to deflect one struggle with repression and bans the people will erupt. They are left with no other choice. This is happening in Cyprus also. Everything which is happening around us has a positive influence on our struggle also.

    (Q) As we approach the end of our time I would like to touch upon a very serious issue. The other day you had mentioned that nationality should not be granted to the children whose parents are not Cypriot. Certain circles are accusing you of racism. How do you answer that?

    (SE) This is a hand-crafted news item. I had made a statement in the newspaper Fileleftheros. There are people who came from Turkey and settled in Cyprus. Their children, who are born and grow up in Cyprus - when they are sent to Turkey find it difficult to live there because they can not assimilate. They have learnt our way of life. They feel they belong to these places. These people are in the middle. That is what I had expressed. The children who were born in Cyprus from Turkish parents have identity problems. These children have not been able to, and will not be able to become citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. This is a reality. That is what I had expressed. The news agency in 'the north' which does the translating diluted my comments and turned them against me. News Agencies involve the art of reporting on events. For us however it has been turned into the art of reporting false and erroneous news. They can continue attacking me but I will continue to speak about realities.

    (Q) We have only a minute left, and I would like to ask you how far you are prepared to go, and to what extent are all the unions which take part in the mobilisations united as they had started?

    (SE) Between the trade union organisations there is close cooperation and dialogue. There certainly are different views, differences in the political sphere, but we continue to go forward together. I liken it to a speeding train. The unions are like the steam engine, behind them are the political parties and the non governmental organisations. The train is travelling at such great speed that if anyone jumps off it they will break their head, will be seriously injured or even killed. Consequently no one wants to jump off the train because the destination of this train is the liberation of our community. Everyone is working soul and body so we can reach our destination.

OTHER RELEVANT ITEMS RECORDED FROM CYPRUS BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Anti-Turkey demonstrations by Turkish Cypriots explained - bilingual spoken in Turkish with Greek subtitles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoIvJ5bUY2w

Bilingual Greek-Turkish program Biz Emeis continues coverage relating to the Turkish Cypriot protests and demonstrations in the Turkish occupied parts of the island. "As is well known, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan made insulting statements about the Turkish Cypriots in reaction to certain placards which were displayed during the massive demonstration on 28.01.2011 giving rise to tensions in relations with Turkey in Turkish occupied Cyprus".

This program, broadcast by Cyprus Broadcasting Corporaton on 11.02.2011 features interviews with two of the persons who had displayed some of the placards which had caused Tayyip Erdogan to take such offence - Hasan Yikici, Political activist from the "Baraka" Cultural Centre (http://www.baraka.cc/), and, Evrim Kamali from the "Jasmin Movement".

-----------

Turkish Cypriots - English extracts - the "Liberation" which became a Nightmare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zew8c9Re7g

Extracts spoken in English, from a one hour current events program about the Turkish Cypriot demonstrations against economic measures being imposed by Turkey on the areas which are occupied 37 years after its invasion and occupation. This program (Turkish Cypriots - the "Liberation" which became a Nightmare) in the Anoiktoi Fakeloi (Open Files) series was broadcast by CyBC on 22.02.2011 and featured some interviews with Turkish Cypriots as well as with all Greek Cypriot political party leaders and President Christofias providing their assessment of the Turkish Cypriot demonstrations.

The above video clip is an extract from the full (60 min) item which is available at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUwlnX-KVJ0

Setting the context - interview with Metin Münir who is a Turkey-based Cypriot political analyst and columnist for the daily Milliyet.

Interviews in English with Turkish Cypriots during the 28.01.2011 demonstration in Turkish occupied Nicosia:

Political analyst Ahmet Sozen of the Eastern Mediterranean University’s (EMU) Cyprus Policy Centre

Şener Ercil - Secretary General of KTOS - Turkish Cypriot Teachers' Union

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Turkish Cypriot Revolt - an appraisal spoken in Greek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3DYOYzu3hM

Spoken in Greek with Turkish subtitles, this was a Biz-Emeis bilingual pogram broadcast by CyBC on 22.02.2011. to provide a considered reaction from members of the Greek Cypriot community to the mass demonstration against the economic policies and settler policy being enforced on Turkish-occupied Cyprus by Turkey.

Speakers:

Director of KIPE, commentator, journalist and lecturer in Social and Political Studies - Mr Costakis Constantinou

Member of the Bi-Communal Initiative, Former Member of Parliament and EU Negotiator, Mr Takis HadjiDemetriou

--------------

Turkish Cypriot Protests - 1of3 - Discussed in Greek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IRpeF4ARh4

Turkish Cypriot protests - 2of3 - KTOS Teachers Union Chairman Interviewed - Turkish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QroG_B0cHNM

Turkish Cypriot Protests - 3of3 - Discussed in Greek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJHrSeIRrEM

CyBC weekly current events program Proektasis devoted its 10/02/2011 to a discussion with a panel of Greek Cypriot commentators providing an appraisal of the massive demonstration by 40,000 Turkish Cypriots on 28/01/2011. This program was also following events developing live at that time with Egypt's then-president Mubarak being due to make a televised speech during which he eventually announced he would not resign.

Panel consisted of:

Christos Pourgourides - DISY

Demetris Syllouris - President of the European Party EVROKO

Nikos Moudouros - Advisor to President Christofias on Turkey affairs

Takis HadjiDemetriou, former Member of the House of Representatives, former EU negotiator and member of the BiCommunal Initiative

--------------

Turkish Cypriots General Strike documentary - protesting Turkey's policies 28.01.2011

(Turkish with Greek subs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhQEY9YGtOg

Documentary, spoken in Turkish with Greek subtitles, about the demonstration organised by the platform of trade unions attended by 40-50,000 Turkish Cypriots against the economic measures and immigration policies being imposed on the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus by Turkey. Produced by the staff of the Bi Lingual Greek-Turkish language Program Biz Emeis, as broadcast by Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation on 08.02.2011.

Includes interviews with many persons attending the demonstration including some of the event organisers and excerpts from some of the speeches

-----------

Turkish Cypriot unions object to Erdogans "Strategic Interests" over Cyprus demos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY8DQonfjxI

CyBC news 07.02.2011 in English, Turkish and Greek report on how Turkish Cypriots found Turkish PM Erdogan's statements about his country's "Strategic Interests" in Cyprus to be offensive, and union leaders involved in organising the General Strike and the massive demonstration on 28.01.2011 handed in their objections at the "Turkish Embassy" in Nicosia and said they would organiser further mass demonstrations.

A union boss said 07.02.2011 that they had gone to the Turkish embassy because they wanted to send a message: "We do not accept what they are imposing on us. We are against it and we do not want to be hostages and slaves until Turkey joins the EU. We are ready to fight for our rights."

Also, statements by Cyprus Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou about the Erdogan statements, and questions to UN's Alexander Downer during his meeting with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias 07.02.2011

-----------

Turkey's Erdogan Furious at Turkish Cypriot 2011 Demos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdCZFH2TpFQ

Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation news reports, in English, Turkish and Greek, (5th, 6th and 7th February 2011) report the furious comments by Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan following the demonstration on 28.01.2011 and the General Strike called by the platform of Turkish Cypriot trade unions to protest Turkey's economic and immigration policies with reference to Turkish-occupied Cyprus - Erdogan called for organisers to be arrested.

-----------

Turkish Cypriots General Strike protesting Turkey's policies 28.01.2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-PsxLXnwPo

News reports on the major event involving mobilisation of a reported 50,000 demonstrators during the General Strike by the platform of Turkish Cypriot Unions held on 28.01.2011 at Inonu Square in Turkish occupied Nicosia, protesting the economic and immigration measures being imposed by Turkey.

News in English, Turkish and Greek from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation on 28th January 2011 and on 29th January.

Also, the last clip is from the profile facebook.com/cetin.t.karaca featuring the music "Ciao Bella" with video footage from the demonstration.

-----------

Zeki Βeşiktepeli - 27.01.2011 pre General Strike by Turkish Cypriots - in Greek Turkish with subs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkQnJKSqBiA

Political analyst and founder of the Jasmine Party in Cyprus, academic Zeki Βeşiktepeli is interviewed on the day before the historic General Strike demonstration by up to 50,000 Turkish Cypriots in Turkish-occupied Cyprus, against Turkey's economic measures and the immigration policy enforced by Turkey sending hundreds of thousands of mainland settlers to change the demographic structure which now threatens the very existence of 'the Turkish Cypriots'.

Spolen in Greek and Turkish (with subtitles in Greek and Turkish) as recorded by the bilingual Biz Emeis Program on 27th January 2011, the day before the General Strike demonstration, and broadcast on 1st February 2011 by Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.

----------

Şener Elcil KTOS - 1of3 - General Strike in Turkish occupied Cyprus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0xlo33vmbs

Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WMNlUX4B4I

Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ3Fh1sjT00

--------------

Sener Ercil - UN and EU officials turn blind eye to Turkey's settler policy in Cyprus
September 2010

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=437782333599

Translation into English from the Greek subtitles of Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation 'Biz Emeis' [ http://www.cybc.com.cy/tv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=195&Itemid=236 ] bilingual program on 16/09/2010 featuring an interview with General Secretary of KTOS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union [ http://www.ktos.org/ ]) KTOS Sener Ercil. Mr Ercil is also a member of the Executive Committee of ETUCE (European Trade Union Committee for Education) [ http://www.ktos.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=8 ] and is a founder member of "This Country is Ours" Movement in Cyprus.

Archive copy of the original broadcast Video, spoken in Turkish, with Greek subtitles:

Part 1 20100916_CYBC_BizEmeis_Sener_Elcil_KTOS_01

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=470253570931

Part 2: 20100916_CYBC_BizEmeis_Sener_Elcil_KTOS_02

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=470234705931

--------------

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150132561225850&comments

28 ocak eylemi

by Murat Kanatlı (videos)

4:37

çav bella, daha ne olsun :)

--------------

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=498117792630&comments
FARK VAR!!! ARKASINDA HALK VAR!!!

by Çetin Tolga Karaca (videos)

2:26

--------------

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGNVVWb6X1I

28 Ocak 2011 Varoluş Mitingi

SELECTION OF PRESS ARTICLES:

http://ataturksocietyuk.com/2011/02/16/erdogan-the-loser/

Erdoğan the loser 16feb11

Hurriyet Daily News

Monday, February 7, 2011

YUSUF KANLI

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=234866

Erdoğan, Talat hold talks on anti-Turkey protests
08 February 2011, Tuesday

http://m.cyprus-mail.com/features/colonial-erdogan-traps-eroglu-catch-22/20110213

‘Colonial’ Erdogan traps Eroglu in a Catch-22
By Simon Bahceli

February 13, 2011

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus-problem/ankara-listening-cry-turkish-cypriots/20110211

Is Ankara listening to the cry of Turkish Cypriots?

By Yiorghos Leventis

February 11, 2011

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14829513,00.html

Turkish Cypriot protests set back Turkey's EU membership bid

09.02.2011

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=pm-demands-legal-action-against-turkish-cypriot-protestors-2011-02-06

Turkish PM demands action against Turkish Cypriot protesters

Sunday, February 6, 2011

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=tahrir-square-don8217t-overlook-inonu-square-in-nicosia-2011-02-11

Tahrir Square? Don’t overlook İnönü Square in Nicosia
Friday, February 11, 2011

CENGİZ AKTAR

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-02/07/c_13721989.htm

Turkish Cypriots march in protest against Turkish PM's statements

2011-02-07

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62921

Turkey: Cyprus Issue Moving to Forefront
February 18, 2011, by Nicholas Birch

http://www.neurope.eu/articles/The-Cypriot-revolt/104807.php

The Cypriot revolt

Robert Ellis

20 February 2011

Please add your name to support the petition on the web, placed online by Turkish Cypriots, and already signed by many of the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot movement:

http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com/

-----------

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/the-turkish-cypriots-are-out-in-the-streets-again/

-----------

Closing thought:

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding" - Albert Einstein

Turkish Cypriot Revolt, Demonstration & Protests which Rocked Turkey 2011

2011-02-09T13:25:00.002Z

Turkish Cypriots General Strike documentary - protesting Turkey's policies 28.01.2011

(spoken in Turkish with Greek subtitles)
Documentary, spoken in Turkish with Greek subtitles, about the demonstration organised by the platform of trade unions attended by 40-50,000 Turkish Cypriots against the economic measures and immigration policies being imposed on the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus by Turkey. Produced by the staff of the Bi Lingual Greek-Turkish language Program Biz Emeis, as broadcast by Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation on 08.02.2011.

Includes interviews with many persons attending the demonstration including some of the event organisers and excerpts from some of the speeches (another version of this item with English subtitles will be uploaded to this account in coming days).

Link

Anti-Turkey demonstrations by Turkish Cypriots explained - Turkish-Greek
(spoken in Turkish with Greek subtitles)

Bilingual Greek-Turkish program Biz Emeis continues coverage relating to the Turkish Cypriot protests and demonstrations in the Turkish occupied parts of the island. "As is well known, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan made insulting statements about the Turkish Cypriots in reaction to certain placards which were displayed during the massive demonstration on 28.01.2011 giving rise to tensions in relations with Turkey in Turkish occupied Cyprus".

This program, broadcast by Cyprus Broadcasting Corporaton on 11.02.2011 features interviews with two of the persons who had displayed some of the placards which had caused Tayyip Erdogan to take such offence - Hasan Yikici, Political activist from the "Baraka" Cultural Centre (http://www.baraka.cc/), and, Evrim Kamali from the "Jasmin Movement".

Link

TV News reports about the demonstration by CyBC, in English Greek and Turkish:
News reports on the major event involving mobilisation of a reported 50,000 demonstrators during the General Strike by the platform of Turkish Cypriot Unions held on 28.01.2011 at Inonu Square in Turkish occupied Nicosia, protesting the economic and immigration measures being imposed by Turkey.

News in English, Turkish and Greek from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation on 28th January 2011 and on 29th January.

The last clip is from the profile facebook.com/cetin.t.karaca featuring the music "Ciao Bella" with video footage from the demonstration.

Link

Turkey's Erdogan Furious at Turkish Cypriot 2011 Demos
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation news reports, in English, Turkish and Greek, (5th, 6th and 7th February 2011) report the furious comments by Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan following the demonstration on 28.01.2011 and the General Strike called by the platform of Turkish Cypriot trade unions to protest Turkey's economic and immigration policies with reference to Turkish-occupied Cyprus - Erdogan called for organisers to be arrested.

Link

Turkish Cypriot unions object to Erdogans "Strategic Interests" over Cyprus demos
CyBC news 07.02.2011 in English, Turkish and Greek report on how Turkish Cypriots found Turkish PM Erdogan's statements about his country's "Strategic Interests" in Cyprus to be offensive, and union leaders involved in organising the General Strike and the massive demonstration on 28.01.2011 handed in their objections at the "Turkish Embassy" in Nicosia and said they would organiser further mass demonstrations.

A union boss said 07.02.2011 that they had gone to the Turkish embassy because they wanted to send a message: "We do not accept what they are imposing on us. We are against it and we do not want to be hostages and slaves until Turkey joins the EU. We are ready to fight for our rights."

Also, statements by Cyprus Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou about the Erdogan statements, and questions to UN's Alexander Downer during his meeting with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias 07.02.2011

Link

Interview with Şener Elcil
The Secretary General of the KTOS Teacher's Union, Talks about the General Strike in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus on the 28th, broadcast on 25th January 2011.
(spoken in Turkish with Greek subtitles)

Part 1:

Link

Part 2:

Link

Part 3:

Link

Zeki Βeşiktepeli - 27.01.2011 pre General Strike by Turkish Cypriots - in Greek Turkish with subs

Link

Şener Elcil - "UN and EU officials turn blind eye to Turkey's settler policy in Cyprus"
http://aspectsofreality.blogspot.com/2010/09/serer-ercil-un-and-eu-officials-turn.html

Izzet Izcan - Turkey threatens Cypriots with annihilation
1of3
Interview, in Turkish with English subtitles, with Izzet Izcan, Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot political party "United Cyprus", about the outcome of the 'elections' in Turkish-occupied Cyprus in April 2010 with Dervis Eroglu replacing Mehmet Ali Talat as leader of the Turkish Cypriots, the political situation in Cyprus and prospects for the intercommunal talks which recommence on 26th May.

Link

Part 2:

Link

Part 3:

Link

--------------------

See also the embeddable:
http://www.livestream.com/turkish_troops_out_of_cyprus

Watch live streaming video from turkish_troops_out_of_cyprus at livestream.com

Turkey sued in US courts by Cypriots (video) - Athan Tsimpedes

2010-10-07T15:00:00.002+01:00

(with apologies that equipment failure at 30 minutes prevented recording the rest of this event)

Lobby for Cyprus Seminar

Greek and Greek Cypriot plaintiffs sue Turkey in US courts for return of their homes in Turkish occupied Cyprus

Speakers:

Athan T. Tsimpedes
Dr Klearchos Kyriakides
Nick Kounoupias
Costas Frangeskides

5 October 2010

Speaker Profiles

Athan T. Tsimpedes is a Greek-American attorney, founder of the Tsimpedes Law Firm, based in Washington DC. He has enjoyed success in a variety of practice areas including international and domestic litigation. Athan has appeared on numerous media and news outlets regarding cases ranging from representing clients against McDonald's to advocating the rights of displaced Cypriots. Athan is currently involved in Class Action litigation advocating rights of former security personnel in the US. In another case, Athan represents the Kurdish victims of the genocideal Anfal campaign, against Iraq.

In the realm of international complex litigation, Athan represented Ms Kirkham in the landmark case of Kirkham v Air France. Ms Kirkham was severly injured while travelling outside the US. Athan successfully litigated in favour of Ms Kirkham against France because of a transaction with Ms Kirkham which was commercial in nature and had a connection to the US.

The lawsuit Athan is pursuing against the pseudo-state in occupied Cyprus was filed in the same court where Ms Kirkham's case was won. The pseudo-state of the occupied territories of northern Cyprus is not recognised as a country by the US or any member of the United Nations, with the exception of Turkey. Yet it clandestinely markets itself in America by maintaining offices, hiring employees and contractors and advertising properties for sale in the occupied area. Therefore, its US enterprise deceptively described as an 'embassy' can be sued as a business entity in the US. In other words, what Air France was to France, the pseudo-state is to Turkey. The US courts would apply the precedent of Kirkham and similar principles in favour of displaced Cypriots worldwide.

The pseudo-state has committed fraud by selling property to unsuspecting buyers who believed they were purchasing property with clean legal title. Turkish and international banks facilitating such transactions are responsible for damages against displaced Cypriots and unsuspecting prospects that were duped into the fraudulent property scheme. For its involvement, the international banking congrlomerate HSBC and its various branches are also named defendants in the lawsuit.

See also the powerpoint presentation used by AthanTsimpedes, available at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDdDL4R8tL0

Recently the international media including American, Greek, Cypriot , Turkish and American outlets reported that on behalf of a Cypriot organisation for displaced mothers and children, Athan successfully lobbied megastars like Rihana and Justin Timberlake not to perform in the pseudo-state. A simple Google search will verify Athan's proverbial 'long arm of the law'!

Dr. Klearchose Kyriakides is a senior lecturer and a non-practising solicitor at the School of Law of the University of Herfordshire in St. Albans, England. He holds an LLB Hons (Law and Politics) Degree from the University of Birmingham together with the MPhil and PhD (International Relations) Degrees from the University of Cambridge and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Westminister. He is a Member of The Law Society of England and Wales. Dr Kyriakides lectures in constitutional law and he is the author of numerous works on constitutional and legal themes, including on Cyprus.

Nick Kounoupias is deputy co-ordinator of Lobby for Cyprus. He is a partner in a UK top 100 law firm specialising in copyright, human rights and cultural property litigation.

Costas Frangeskides is a partner in the City law firm of Holman Fenwick Willan, specialising in international litigation and dispute resolution. He is a long standing member and deputy co-ordinator of Lobby for Cyprus.

Programme:

Introduction

Costas Frangekides chairs the panel

Keynote speaker: Athan K. Tsimpedes

Prominent US Attorney Athan Tsimpedes makes a presentation on the class action he is pursuing in the US Courts on behalf of US, Cypriot and Greek plaintiffs against Turkey and its illegal regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus for the return of their homes and for significant damages.
http://tsimpedeslaw.com

Conclusion
by Dr. Klearchos Kyriakides

Question and answer session
Chaired by Nick Kounoupias

Persons wishing to become involved in the Lobby for Cyprus campaign see details below.

Lobby for Cyprus is a non-profit organisation that relies on volunteers and donations to carry outs its vital campaign work. If you would like to contribute in any way to the just cause please contact:

Lobby for Cyprus
POBox 692, Edgware, HA8 4LA
Tel: +44 (0)20 8888 2566
email: admin@lobbyforcyprus.org
http://www.lobbyforcyprus.org

Lobby for Cyprus is a non-party political organisation with the aim of reuniting Cyprus

Sener Elcil - UN and EU officials turn blind eye to Turkey's settler policy in Cyprus

2010-09-24T14:23:00.007+01:00

Archive copy of the original broadcast, spoken in Turkish, with Greek subritles:

Translation (below) into English from the Greek subtitles of Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation 'Biz Emeis' bilingual program on 16/09/2010 featuring an interview with General Secretary of KTOS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union) Sener Ercil. Mr Elcil is also a member of the Executive Committee of ETUCE (European Trade Union Committee for Education) and is a founder member of "This Country is Ours" Movement in Cyprus.

It is expected that coming days will see the intensification of the struggle against the package of economic measures which is being imposed on the Turkish Cypriot community.

The KTOS Union continues, as always, to lead trade union activism in the Turkish Cypriot community. Tonight we welcome to the studio the General Secretary of KTOS Mr Sener Elcil who will update us on the current situation. Welcome.

(Q) The holidays are over ...

(A) We don't have holidays, as the union I mean. Our teachers and students have been on holiday but we continue with our duties.

(Q) What is the situation today within the trade union movement?

(A) As you know, the Turkish government has for a long time now been imposing its policies on our community. In order to be able to react to these policies various unions, from all the political platforms have joined together on a single platform. This consists of 35 unions. A basic purpose for our joint platform is to react to Turkey's economic measures. Because, with the pretext of the international economic crisis, Turkey is trying to impose on the Turkish Cypriot community some of its own perceptions. This is not something new. It is something which began in 1986, or even earlier. It is therefore the duty of every Turkish Cypriot who loves his country to oppose the measures because the fundamental basis of these measures is the assimilation of the Turkish Cypriots and the absorption of the north into Turkey.

(Q) Is the trade union movement itself sufficiently united? Do you have common decisions or are there different views amongst you?

(A) As I said earlier, the platform consists of 35 unions from different political viewpoints. Among these there are unions with very strong ideological and political affiliations. Many of these had in earlier times been members of the "This Country is Ours" movement. Some unions joined us more recently but they had been closely related with the subservient administration. What unites us is our reaction to the attack which is being made on workers' rights. Politically however we do not have common goals. Although we are fighting for a solution and for a united federal Cyprus some of the other unions are happy with the existing situation, and some of them support the creation of a separate state in the north. This is one basic point of difference between us.

(Q) Would you say that there has been a reaction against Turkey's policies because it has cut funding to Turkish Cypriots?

(A) That would not be a correct representation of what is happening. The existing political administration in the north has been created by Turkey. It is a system that has been created by the Turkish governments in which, although apparently there is a vote for the election of the leadership and of the officials of the administration, the place is effectively ruled by the beaureocrats of the Turkish embassy who have the determining say. There is the "Finance Minister" and the economic advisors. The "Minister" can not make any policies without the support of his advisors. The same applies to the "Education Minister". Without the approval of these advisors the "Minister" can not do anything. The political regime is founded on the perception that he who pays has the final say and the others must obey the instructions.

The contention that Turkey supports us, as they say, economically is mistaken and I can explain the factors to you. In earlier times Turkey spent close to 350 million dollars a year on construction projects and other expenses. As far as we know, recently this sum has grown to 700 million. These are official figures regarding the gift, loan or help from Turkey. According to official figures, our imports from Turkey are around 1.6 billion dollars a year. I do not include unofficial figures. If we estimate the cost of the presence in the north of illegal workers this rises to 4 billion dollars. Money which leaves Cyprus to Turkey. Because all our imports and economic relations are with Turkey the north is a profitable place for Turkey. It is a colony. It spends one and gains five.

(Q) Turkey frequently talks about the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and about an embargo that must be stopped. Would the lifting of isolation of the Turkish Cypriots be beneficial to Turkey?

(A) Turkey has until today never accepted the idea that the Turkish Cypriots can rely on their own resources and determine their own future. What Turkey wants is a subservient entity. That is why Turkey never allowed the creation in the north of a healthy economic environment. The economy in the north consists of a host of activities which are not commensurate with the self respect of the Turkish Cypriots. There is at this time an economic system which is based on the casinos, the gambling clubs, pornography and money laundering. Lately, newspapers write about a trade in drugs. In Turkey for example there was the interception of a load of 142 kilos of heroin and all indications point to the north. This means the mafia and those who benefit from illegal acts have settled in the north. You can not base an economy on such things. The economy of a place depends on production an not on the kind of things I have mentioned. Production in our country has stopped completely.

We do not consider it right to talk about isolation and embargos. Embargo is what applies to Cuba. In the north one can today arrange imports from any country one wants to. The Turkish Cypriots can go to the south for their shopping. They can travel to all the countries of the world either directly from Larnaca or through Turkey from Ercan. For that reason it is a mistake to talk of isolation. Isolation exists only for the separatist entity in the north. There is a decision about this by the United Nations. There is no isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community. As long as the separatist entity exist it will be isolated. We must know this very clearly because this is the policy of the international community based on the decisions of the United Nations.

(Q) Turkey has recently increased its pressures on Turkish Cypriots, and has done so in a more blatant manner than has been the case in the past. Not only does this happen blatantly but it happens in an insulting manner, such as for example the recent statements by the Turkish Prime Minister on Turkish television.

(A) It is well known that with the support of the U.S.A. and because of its relations with the European Union, Turkey is becoming a large economy. Some of the factors which contribute to the strengthening of Turkey are the projects to transport natural gas through Turkey, the support of moderate Islam in the Middle East, and the making of Turkey into America's and NATO's policeman in the Middle East. For the European Union Turkey represents a huge market and a place for cheap production. Turkey is exploiting the fact that the political balances are based on economic power.

Since 1974 Turkey continues the process of placing settlers in the north. Despite this being a war crime the international community turns a blind eye to this. As a result the population in the north is estimated to be between 720 thousand and a million.

Turkey is trying through political imposition, to implement assimilation of the Turkish Cypriot communuty. With the political power which the AKP Government has acquired the Turkish government no longer needs the Turkish Cypriots and so it is now openly pursuing its colonialism in Cyprus provoking the international community. As regards the Turkish Cypriots, it oppresses them with the aim of forcing them to move to the south or to immigrate to other countries. The oppression of the Turkish Cypriots happens not only through economic means, but also culturally and through religious means. Turkish ministers who visit the country spend their evenings opening gambling establishments and their days signing agreements for the building of mosques and facilities related to them. Turkish Cypriots are therefore exposed to the pressures by Turkey to change their cultural identity and lose their natural characteristics.

(Q) Bearing in mind everything you have told us about the pressures by Turkey on the Turkish Cypriots but also bearing in mind the economic crisis of the last two to three years what are the current economic circumstances for the Turkish Cypriots?

(A) The system which has been imported is intended to create a favoured 'ruling elite'. To create a subservient administration which already exists in the north. They will be amply rewarded while the other sections of the society will be low pay, reduced to the same levels as in Turkey. The normal living conditions in the north, and the basic needs are the same as in the south. On the other hand the living standards in Turkey are much lower in comparison with Cyprus. By reducing the living standards of the Turkish Cypriots it is basically forcing them to live with lower incomes and forces them to migrate. With reference to the administrators, the ruling elite, will receive astronomically higher incomes. On the one hand they will be the favoured group of officials, those who are subservient to Ankara's wishes, and on the other hand there will be the lowly paid workers of the public and private sectors. These are the circumstances we face today. We do not believe there is an economic crisis in the north of the island - there is no such thing. Everything changes very fast in Cyprus.

With the solution of the Cyprus problem and with the economic integration, everything I have already mentioned will change. For us the solution of the Cyprus problem is the key to a solution of all the problems. Even the confidence building measures will bring economic relief. According to economic studies which have been made, after the return of Famagusta there will be a need for two billion euros for the reconstruction of the city. An injection of two billion will create tremendous economic development. The operation of the port of Famagusta under the EU's supervision will be the answer to all those who mislead the world by talking about 'isolation'. On the other hand however it will constitute a big movement for the development of trade.

We stress that the fact that the solution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of the island and the economic integration will bring a solution to all the problems which we face today. The economic system in the north is characterised by technical crises because it is not based on strong foundations. The economy is not based on production.

(Q) - The Turkish Cypriots are citizens as much of the Republic of Cyprus as also of the European Union. Why do the European Union and the United Nations not react to the (Turkish) policy of political assimilation of the Turkish Cypriots? Why do the unions not undertake any initiatives in that direction?

(A) - In relation to this we have undertaken initiatives with reference to the European Union, through the European Parliament. I have personally had meetings with officials of the European Parliament. As you know, I am a member of the Executive Committee of ETUCE, representing Cyprus, and I periodically travel to Brussels where we often have meetings with European Parliament officials whom we brief on behalf of the unions. I had, for example, meetings with MEPs who are members of the contact group with Turkish Cypriots, but they have not displayed the slightest interest. As I said at the beginning, the balance of power contains the logic of ignoring the Turkish Cypriots. The United Nations and the administrative bodies of the European Union and of its member countries ignore the Turkish Cypriots. Fundamentally they are not even interested in the Cyprus problem. What does interest them is relations between Turkey and the European Union. It is all a matter of appraising trade relations where money talks, something which is alien to democratic discourse. The interests of the large countries are often a reason for displacing, or ignoring even, the interests of small countries and communities. We do however continue our representations on this matter.

(Q) - In relation to the Republic of Cyprus?

(A) - I would have difficulties saying that the officials of the Republic of Cyprus make sufficient steps on this matter. We feel that government officials of the administration led by Mr Christofias do not promote a serious policy against those who impose on Cyprus the policy of assimilation of the Turkish Cypriot community. To give you one example, according to the Geneva Convention of 1949, the invasion and the subsequesnt colonisation of the occupied territories is considered to be a war crime. This can be the subject of a recourse to the International Court at the Hague only be countries involved. We have not seen the officials of the Republic of Cyprus, beyond just words, making any movement in this direction. I am referring always to the continuing colonisation in the north. We, as Turkish Cypriots, expect of the officials of the Republic of Cyprus to make a recourse to the international court at the Hague and to challenge Turkey at an international level. This would be a significant initiative. We as the Turkish Cypriot community can not have recourse to the International Court at the Hague because only countries have this right. The officials of the Republic of Cyprus have to undertake such an initiative which we have been anticipating for so long.

[Note: The fact that any matter brought to the International Court at the Hague will only be accepted if all countries involved in the case agree to it being considered, and that Turkey does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and will certainly not accept such a case being heard - should be mentioned as being relevant]

(Q) - We only have about four minutes left so I would like to touch on a different matter as my last question. What role can the unions play from now on regarding efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and secondly, what do you consider to be the biggest obstacle in our moving towards a solution?

(A) - Our grouping represents unions with varying political views. In the large ones we believe that a solution of the Cyprus problem would solve all the problems. For a solution of the Cyprus problem we must begin with confidence building measures. The perpetuation of the talks has harmed the communities, and particularly the Turkish Cypriots.

As part of the policy of assimilation of the Turkish Cypriots, in addition to the importation of settlers, we have seen in recent years the large capital owners of Turkey making serious investments in the north. We see them investing in large hotels and other projects. This is a danger to Turkish Cypriot investments. Capital in the north has started changing hands.

In our progress towards a solution we expect to see serious initiatives. Famagusta is one of these. We believe that there must be significant steps towards rapprochement between the two communities.

The biggest obstacle to achieving a solution is the policy which Turkey is pursuing. The Turkish Governments are trying to prevent a solution while generating the impression that they want it. At the talks now we have Mr Eroglu who had previously always stated that he is against a solution. Today he presents himself as being in support of a solution, repeating that "we said yes while the Greek Cypriots said no to a solution". I remember well that Eroglu had gone from village to village, and from house to house in his efforts to prevent a solution. It does not matter who is talking - what does matter is who is hiding behind him. Eroglu is an employee who is following Turkey's instructions, and he has been told to appear in favour of a solution, but he acts in a way so as to prevent a solution. The Cyprus problem is one issue in relations between Turkey with the European Union. We Turkish Cypriots are hostages to this situation.

Turkey is not interested in the Turkish Cypriots but in the territory in the north and they usee this as a pretext. The survival of our community does not concern them. Turkey must put an end to this policy. It must make specific steps in the direction of a solution.

Beyond that, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities must learn to cooperate. They must accept that they are all Cypriots and that they must live together on this island.

Thank you very much for being with us today.

(Ends)

Links to the Youtube videos of this item, with subtitles in English, will be inserted here once upload completes.

See previous articles and video on this blog at:

Turkey for Thanksgiving and Cyprus problem unresolved

http://aspectsofreality.blogspot.com/2009/11/turkey-for-thanksgiving-and-cyprus.html

Supporting Dissidents in Turkish occupied Cyprus

http://aspectsofreality.blogspot.com/2009/11/supporting-dissidents-in-turkish.html

Please add your name to support the petition on the web, placed online by Turkish Cypriots, and already signed by many of the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot movement:

http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com

Cyprus marks anniversary of second wave of Turkish invasion 1974

2010-08-14T20:54:00.009+01:00

1974 Illegal Invasion of Cyprus -- Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bt-3-Yhow0&NR=1

We are all prisoners of knowledge. To know how Cyprus was betrayed, and to have studied the record of that betrayal, is to make oneself unhappy and to spoil, perhaps for ever, one's pleasure for visiting one of the world's most enchanting islands. Nothing will ever restore the looted treasures, the bereaved families, the plundered villages, the groves and hillsides scalded with napalm. Nor will anything mitigate the record of the callous, and crude politicians who regarded Cyprus as something on which to scribble their inane and conceited designs. But fatalism would be the worst betrayal of all. The acceptance, the legitimization of what was done - those things must be repudiated. Such a refusal has a value beyond Cyprus in showing that acquiescence in injustice is not 'realism'. Once the injustice has been set down and described, and called by its right name, acquiescence in it becomes impossible. That is why one writes about Cyprus in sorrow but more - much more - in anger."

-Christopher Hitchens

1974 Illegal Invasion of Cyprus -- Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQqnyF-jhi0&feature=related

In 1974, a coup d'etat by the Greek Army Officers, which were located in Cyprus, tried to overthrow Makarios, who was the president of Cyprus. This created enough problems, which facilitated the invasion of Cyprus by the Turkish military. The first invasion took place on July 20, 1974. A second invasion took place less than a month later, on August 14, 1974. To this day the Turks still remain in Cyprus even though they are in violation of the UN charter. During the invasions more than 200,000 Greek Cypriots were displaced and became refugees in their own country. Thousands were killed and almost 2,000 people reported missing are still unaccounted for.

36 years later Turkish Troops still occupy the 37% of the island which they occupied in 1974

From the Cyprus Mail 14th August 2010

THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY of Turkey’s second offensive against Cyprus was condemned across the local political spectrum yesterday.

On August 14, 1974, Turkish troops expanded their occupation to include the tourist resort of Famagusta in the east and the rich citrus-growing area of Morphou in the west. In total, almost 37 per cent of the island ended up under Turkish occupation.

Turkish troops first invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974, five days after the legal government of the late Archbishop Makarios III was toppled by a military coup engineered by the military junta then ruling Greece.

Two unproductive conferences in Geneva followed; the first between Britain, Greece and Turkey and the second with the additional attendance of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot representatives.

On August 13 the Turkish Foreign Minister called for the respective enclaves to be divided into cantons, and demanded an immediate response.

Greece, Britain and America all saw this as unreasonable. The next day the Turkish army mounted a second full-scale offensive, three weeks after a ceasefire was declared on July 22, and despite the fact that talks were still being held and agreement seemed about to be reached.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat began a fresh round of UN-led talks in September 2008. A new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu was elected in April this year and has picked up the talks where Christofias and Talat left off.

What the item by the Cyprus Mail does not convey is the reason for having choosen to insert the two videos clips above, which communicate somewhat more effectively what those words actually meant for some of the people who experienced the brutality of what Turkey still has the gall to call its 'peace operation' in Cyprus.

Items below are recordings of events in the UK, spoken in English, to mark the 36th Anniversary of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus

turkish_troops_out_of_cyprus on livestream.com

Unfortunately neither US Policy, or British Policy, give expression to the words "Turkish Troops out of Cyprus" as judged by the Obama visit, or the more recent Cameron visit to Turkey - so THAT is the root of a problem which needs to be resolved, if the Cyprus problem is to be 'solved'.

Please support us by adding your name to the petition at:

http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com

Rally for Human Rights and for a Free United Cyprus - Cyprus Week 2010

2010-07-19T12:35:00.002+01:00

CYPRUS WEEK - Rally for Human Rights and for a Free United Cyprus

"UK CYPRIOTS CALL ON CAMERON TO ACT FOR JUSTICE AND UNITY IN CYPRUS"

National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom
Britannia Road, London, N12 9RU.
Tel: 020 8445 9999 Fax: 020 8445 9977
http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

19th July 2010 - Press Release

British Cypriots joined politicians from across Britain’s political spectrum yesterday to condemn Turkey’s intransigence over efforts to end its continuing illegal military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.

A petition was delivered to Prime Minister David Cameron, calling for the UK to use its influence with the Turkish Government in order to press Turkey to withdraw its occupying troops and to play an active and positive role in current efforts to reunite Cyprus for the benefit of all Cypriots.

A letter to the Turkish Ambassador to the UK was also delivered following a demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in London. Later, a march through the heart of London culminated in a mass rally in Trafalgar Square. The annual July London “Rally for Cyprus” was organised by the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, to mark the twin anniversaries of the fascist coup by the military junta then ruling Greece on 15h July 1974, and the illegal invasion of Cyprus by the Turkish army which followed 5 days later, on 20th July 1974.

Twelve days before the rally, on 6th July 2010 , an event took place in the Houses of Parliament to offer support to relatives of people still missing since Turkey invaded the island in the summer of 1974 and to lobby politicians for their support.

The rally in Trafalgar Square was addressed by several British politicians from the main parties. Mr Peter Droussiotis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, and The Minister of Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus, Mrs Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, also addressed the event.

In his opening address, Mr. Droussiotis said:

“We expect the new British Prime Minister David Cameron whom we petitioned at 10 Downing Street today and the new Foreign Secretary William Hague to tell Turkey that it must change its tune on Cyprus, that it must, at long last, change course, if it wants to make further progress in Europe.

“Turkey’s unacceptable behaviour in Cyprus must not be rewarded; it must be punished if it is not corrected. The new British government has a unique opportunity to help bring this about – to make this vital and principled change to its approach to Turkey.”

Tribute was then paid to former MPs in attendance, still showing their support for Cyprus; Tom Cox, Eddie O’Hara, Andrew Dismore and Ian Twinn. Respects were also paid to Rudi Vis, the former MP for Finchley and Golders Green and a long-standing friend of Cyprus and the UK Cypriot community, who died earlier this year. Other parliamentary supporters of the Cyprus cause in attendance included Transport Minister Theresa Villiers MP, Mike Freer MP, Matthew Offord MP, Alan Meale MP and Jim Sheridan MP.

The Cyprus High Commissioner HE Alexandros Zenon and his Deputy Mr Dimitris Hatziargyrou represented the Cyprus High Commission at the event while the Mayors of the occupied towns of Kyrenia and Morphou, Mrs Maria Ioannou and Mr Charalambos Pittas, respectively, represented Cypriot towns and villages under Turkey’s military occupation.

Jim Sheridan MP, a Scottish MP, then delivered the wishes of the people of Scotland for a solution to the Cyprus problem before stating that the Coalition Government had been elected on a pledge of delivering fairness and that: “There is no greater cause for fairness than in Cyprus” and calling upon the UK Government to ensure that Turkey cannot gain EU member status while occupying another EU state.

The Minister of Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus, Mrs. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, who was the main speaker at the event, then addressed the audience, firstly by recognising the good turnout for the rally, saying that “Your participation in this massive demonstration gives a strong message that this injustice … cannot longer be tolerated, a message that must reach all policymakers in the UK.”

The Minister added:

“European values and principles are being trampled upon by Turkey. The values of democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law, which are the very foundations of the United Kingdom, are being made a mockery by Turkey’s illegal actions in Cyprus.

“Our message is not one of despair, it is one of hope, of resolve and of re-dedication to the cause of peace, justice, freedom and unity for Cyprus. We have searched for 36 years for a peaceful solution and we shall continue to do so. We want a common future with our Turkish Cypriots compatriots, in peace, prosperity and security as citizens of the European Union.”

Matthew Offord, the recently elected Member of Parliament for Hendon, spoke of the his and his colleagues’ determination to hold the British Government to account, saying that it had been elected on pledges of fairness and that Cyprus is an example of where fairness must be delivered, adding:

“If Turkey wants to join the EU, it must fulfil their obligations to the people of Cyprus. That means that there is no division of the island. That means the return of property to the people from whom it was taken in the invasion of 1974. And that means that people who are missing must be located and identified, so that their relatives can begin the grieving process. Until that happens, Turkey is not welcome in the EU. Until then, we keep fighting.”

Mike Freer, new MP for Finchley and Golders Green, added his support, saying that he would work with his colleagues in Parliament to maintain a high profile for Cyprus on the Government’s foreign policy agenda.

The last guest speaker was Alan Meale MP, a stalwart supporter of reunification of the island of Cyprus, who expressed his dismay at returning to the rally each year to demand a solution, rather than to celebrate a reunited island. He added:

“Here we stand in Trafalgar Square, in the shadow of the South African Embassy, asking for an end to apartheid in Europe. And until we get that, there is no place for Turkey in the EU. There is no place for them in Europe while they occupy part of Cyprus.

“Struggles sometimes take decades, as you all know. But for those who have lost homes and relatives we must continue to fight until we win a solution and free Cyprus from tyranny. There can be no peace until Turkey removes its troops from the island.”

Mr Droussiotis closed the rally by thanking everyone who had come to show their support and solidarity.

Ends

Photos of the rally will be available in the media resources section at: www.cypriotfederation.co.uk
Videos of the speeches can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7D8574A86F1740BE
Subscribe to our RSS News via our website http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

For more information, please call Tony Sophoclides on 07887 935 335

Sunday 18th July 2010

This year's events take place against the backdrop of the 36th anniversary since the Greek junta coup against the government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish invasion and occupation of 34.7% of the Republic of Cyprus.

These events are also intended to celebrate the Accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU which will hopefully lead to the unification of the island as a truly independent federated state for all the people of Cyprus.

This year is also the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Cyprus in 1960

PROGRAMME: 13 – 20 July 2010

"Raising the flags of the Republic of Cyprus and of the European Union"

Tuesday, 13th July 7.00 PM : Raising the flags of the Republic of Cyprus and of the European Union and an Exhibition of the Archives of Theatro Technis and of the Cypriot Community in Camden, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Unity Theatre Trust. Also poetry and music by the harpist Ricardo Curbello and others.

View full video of this event at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0311A5518A9332CB

"Lobby for Cyprus Seminar - "Law and Ethics of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus"

Wednesday, 14th July, 7.30 pm : The Seminar consisted of three presentations:

1. Costas Frangeskides: “CAN THE CYPRUS ISSUE BE SOLVED THROUGH THE COURTS?” - A lawyer’s perspective on the role of the law in the search for a just settlement.

2. Kyriacos Christodoulou: “THE CYPRUS ISSUE - A REFUGEE PERSPECTIVE”

3. Dr. Klearchos Kyriacides: “THE TURKISH INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS: a case study in unethical behaviour.

See full video of the seminar at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1EBFB3E56E8953BF

"RALLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FOR A FREE UNITED CYPRUS"

Sunday, 18th July, 4.30 PM : RALLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FOR A FREE UNITED CYPRUS, starting outside the Turkish Embassy at Belgrave Square London SW1 at 3.00pm and marching to hear the main speaker at Trafalgar Square, Erato Kozakou Markoullis.

See full video of this event at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7D8574A86F1740BE

For further information:
info@theatrotechnis.com http://www.theatrotechnis.com
pressenquiries@cypriotfederation.org.uk http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

Readers of this weblog are asked to add their names to the online petition at:

http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com/

Law and Ethics of the Turkish Occupation of Cyprus Seminar - Cyprus Week 2010

2010-07-19T12:13:00.001+01:00

CYPRUS WEEK - Law and Ethics of the Turkish Occupation of Cyprus

Wednesday 14th July 2010

This year's events take place against the backdrop of the 36th anniversary since the Greek junta coup against the government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish invasion and occupation of 34.7% of the Republic of Cyprus.

These events are also intended to celebrate the Accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU which will hopefully lead to the unification of the island as a truly independent federated state for all the people of Cyprus.

This year is also the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Cyprus in 1960

PROGRAMME: 13 – 20 July 2010

"Raising the flags of the Republic of Cyprus and of the European Union"

Tuesday, 13th July 7.00 PM : Raising the flags of the Republic of Cyprus and of the European Union and an Exhibition of the Archives of Theatro Technis and of the Cypriot Community in Camden, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Unity Theatre Trust. Also poetry and music by the harpist Ricardo Curbello and others.

View full video of this event at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0311A5518A9332CB

"Lobby for Cyprus Seminar - "Law and Ethics of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus"

Wednesday, 14th July, 7.30 pm : The Seminar consisted of three presentations:

1. Costas Frangeskides: “CAN THE CYPRUS ISSUE BE SOLVED THROUGH THE COURTS?” - A lawyer’s perspective on the role of the law in the search for a just settlement.

2. Kyriacos Christodoulou: “THE CYPRUS ISSUE - A REFUGEE PERSPECTIVE”

3. Dr. Klearchos Kyriacides: “THE TURKISH INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS: a case study in unethical behaviour.

See full video of the seminar at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1EBFB3E56E8953BF

"RALLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FOR A FREE UNITED CYPRUS"

Sunday, 18th July, 4.30 PM : RALLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FOR A FREE UNITED CYPRUS, starting outside the Turkish Embassy at Belgrave Square London SW1 at 3.00pm and marching to hear the main speaker at Trafalgar Square, Erato Kozakou Markoullis.

See full video of this event at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7D8574A86F1740BE

For further information:
info@theatrotechnis.com http://www.theatrotechnis.com
pressenquiries@cypriotfederation.org.uk http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

Readers of this weblog are asked to add their names to the online petition at:

http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com/

Raising the Flag of the Republic of Cyprus and of the EU - Cyprus Week 2010

2010-07-19T11:50:00.001+01:00

CYPRUS WEEK - Raising the Flag of the Republic of Cyprus and of the EU

Tuesday 13th July 2010

This year's events take place against the backdrop of the 36th anniversary since the Greek junta coup against the government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish invasion and occupation of 34.7% of the Republic of Cyprus.

These events are also intended to celebrate the Accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU which will hopefully lead to the unification of the island as a truly independent federated state for all the people of Cyprus.

This year is also the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Cyprus in 1960

PROGRAMME: 13 – 20 July 2010

"Raising the flags of the Republic of Cyprus and of the European Union"

Tuesday, 13th July 7.00 PM : Raising the flags of the Republic of Cyprus and of the European Union and an Exhibition of the Archives of Theatro Technis and of the Cypriot Community in Camden, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Unity Theatre Trust. Also poetry and music by the harpist Ricardo Curbello and others.

View full video of this event at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0311A5518A9332CB

"Lobby for Cyprus Seminar - "Law and Ethics of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus"

Wednesday, 14th July, 7.30 pm : The Seminar consisted of three presentations:

1. Costas Frangeskides: “CAN THE CYPRUS ISSUE BE SOLVED THROUGH THE COURTS?” - A lawyer’s perspective on the role of the law in the search for a just settlement.

2. Kyriacos Christodoulou: “THE CYPRUS ISSUE - A REFUGEE PERSPECTIVE”

3. Dr. Klearchos Kyriacides: “THE TURKISH INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS: a case study in unethical behaviour.

See full video of the seminar at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1EBFB3E56E8953BF

"RALLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FOR A FREE UNITED CYPRUS"

Sunday, 18th July, 4.30 PM : RALLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FOR A FREE UNITED CYPRUS, starting outside the Turkish Embassy at Belgrave Square London SW1 at 3.00pm and marching to hear the main speaker at Trafalgar Square, Erato Kozakou Markoullis.

See full video of this event at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7D8574A86F1740BE

For further information:
info@theatrotechnis.com http://www.theatrotechnis.com
pressenquiries@cypriotfederation.org.uk http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

Readers of this weblog are asked to add their names to the online petition at:
http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com/

New British Parliament provides fresh support for Cyprus

2010-07-10T13:54:00.002+01:00

National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom
Britannia Road, London, N12 9RU.
Tel: 020 8445 9999 Fax: 020 8445 9977

http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

7 July 2010

"New Parliament provides fresh support for Cyprus"

Newly elected members joined stalwart friends of Cyprus in Parliament last night, committing themselves to the cause of reunifying the island.

At an annual event organised by the National Federation of Cypriots in the Palace of Westminster, Parliamentarians addressed members of the Cypriot community and later took questions from the audience, in what amounted to a positive demonstration that political will and commitment among new MPs is strong.

The meeting started with Federation President Peter Droussiotis congratulating MPs on their election or re-election and welcoming all guests before paying tribute to Rudi Vis, the former MP for Finchley. A minute’s silence was held in recognition of Mr Vis’s unfaltering commitment to healing division on the island.

Mr Droussiotis then called upon the new Government to meet its special responsibilities to Cyprus, saying:

“Turkey is Europe’s biggest emerging economy, a fact that the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, acknowledged in his first keynote speech after the General Election. He said that Britain will make a particular effort to work with Turkey. But Turkey’s political and economic importance does not give it the right to seek to hold Cyprus and the Cypriot people hostage to further its own geo-strategic interests.

“We expect the British Government to fulfil its special responsibilities to Cyprus and for Mr Hague to tell Turkey that it must recognise Cyprus and end its occupation in the north of the island.”

Chris Bryant MP, Shadow Minister for Europe, then related his dismay at Mr Talat’s replacement by Dervis Eroglu as the Turkish Cypriot community’s leader in negotiations in Cyprus, saying that it was “very painful for us to see the two leaders of the two communities having to start work again”. He added:

“A two state solution is no solution. That would simply reward bad behaviour and condone the present situation. We need to see an end to division, we need to see completely free trade and traffic and everyone should be able to enjoy the prosperity that the European Union can bring.”

He also stated his fear that Turkey could start “looking to the East, and not to the EU” if Turkey was made to feel that it was not welcome in the European Union.

Theresa Villiers, Transport Minister and MP for Chipping Barnet, welcomed the presence of new MPs and reiterated her support for the reunification of Cyprus. She added that she had recently spoken with Foreign Office ministers to emphasise the importance of reaching a solution in Cyprus, before praising the efforts of the Cypriot community in the UK in sustaining a voice for Cyprus here in what she described as a “vital struggle to see progress to remedy injustice in Cyprus”.

Nick de Bois, the newly elected MP for Enfield North, stated that one of his aims in standing for election was to make sure that Cyprus was firmly on the agenda of the Government. He related his pride in the fact that the Cyprus problem had featured not only in the Conservative manifesto for the general election but also in the coalition agreement of the new Government. Mr de Bois went on to commit to “representing the views of his Cypriot constituents” in the years to come.

Jim Sheridan, Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said that politicians also had a role to educate British people in the “horrible history” of the Cyprus problem. He further stated:

“I do not accept the argument that because Turkey is a large country and a large economy, that they can then ignore the atrocities that have taken place and the occupation.”

He added that “if they [Turkey] want to join the club of Europe then they have to meet the criteria,” before calling for more action on accounting for people who went missing during the invasion of 1974 and are still unaccounted for. He also decried the destruction of the cultural and religious heritage in the occupied area.

Hendon’s new MP, Matthew Offord, then addressed the meeting, saying that “it is not acceptable that Turkey doesn’t allow ships and other vessels from the island [of Cyprus] to use its ports” and that it showed “double standards when considering the recent flotilla that went to Israel and the comments Turkey made to Israel”.

He said that the United States has an important role to play but that the EU is also key, adding his support for Turkey’s accession to the EU only upon three conditions being satisfied: the reunification of Cyprus, the return of property to its rightful owners and the missing people to be accounted for.

The recently re-elected Member for Enfield Southgate, David Burrowes MP, recognised that progress has been made regarding the matter of missing people but that “information and reconciliation are two very different things”. He called for MPs to help to grow support among parliamentary colleagues to swell the political understanding of the Cyprus cause in Parliament.

Mr Burrowes added that “Dr Eroglu’s succession of Mr Talat is a negative development because it meant that we lost the dynamic of the talks between Mr Talat and President Christofias,” a dynamic that “had led us away from the blame game”.

Mike Freer MP said that he shared colleagues’ concerns that “Turkey should face West and not East, but we should not allow Turkey to join the EU while it continues to occupy an EU state.”

Mr Freer said, “Part of my job is to ensure that the Foreign Secretary honours his commitments to Cyprus”.

Brandon Lewis MP told the audience how we was new to the issues of the division of Cyprus but was impressed at the strength of cross-party support for the reunification of Cyprus, before committing his efforts to help the cause in Westminster.

Longstanding friend of Cyprus, Andy Love MP, told of his “heavy heart” at having to once again address a meeting whose theme was the division of Cyprus, rather than to celebrate its reunification. Mr Love called on the Government to make Cyprus a much bigger priority because:

“The UK has a special role in Cyprus. We were there at the creation of the independent Republic of Cyprus, we are a guarantor power and that gives us a special responsibility. And Britain has a role in the world … as a member of the EU and the Security Council of the UN, where it must push and cajole all parties in the Cyprus problem to make sure that a proper dialogue takes place.”

However, he added, there is also a need for US influence because it has “a critical relation ship with Turkey” which can be used to “push Turkey in the right direction.”

Mark Menzies MP entered Parliament at the general election in May, representing the Fylde constituency in Lancashire. Mr Menzies declared that he had neither a constituency interest or a great deal of knowledge about the Cyprus problem but that he had come to the event to “listen and to take away information” about Cyprus. He said that, by doing so, he would be able to “support my colleagues in sometimes making Ministers’ lives uncomfortable and keeping Cyprus on the agenda.”

Stating that the Cyprus problem was clearly “a marathon, not a sprint” he committed himself in helping to “keep things moving.”

Alan Meale MP was the last Parliamentarian to address the event. He praised the Cypriot community in their efforts, citing the presence of many young people at the event as an example of how “you must be doing something right!”

Mr Meale said he looked forward to the Cyprus Presidency of the EU (in 2012), because “it will give us impetus… at present, the international community is just making excuses, allowing the status quo to remain.”

However, he added that there are reasons for optimism, telling of the positive discussions that he had held with Vice-President Biden of the US last year, as part of a delegation to Washington.

He praised the new MPs for their contributions to the event and for committing their efforts to the cause of reunifying Cyprus.

Following questions from members of the Cypriot community, Mr Droussiotis closed the meeting, expressing his pleasure at the support from new Members of Parliament.

Speeches by Mr Droussiotis and British Parliamentarians can be seen at the Federation’s website and also at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1F582EE7A90F1DEC

ENDS

For more information, please call Tony Sophoclides on 07887 935 335.
You can subscribe to our RSS News via our website www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

PS:

See also video of the entire one day conference "Cyprus - 50 Years of Independence - Achievements and Challenges” held at the London Metropolitan University on 30th June 2010, which included a briefing by Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou "The Need for a settlement of the Cyprus Problem and current developments".

---------------

Video of Rally for Cyprus at Trafalgar Square 2009

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=36BC99A9D4BFB4B1
and as a single clip:
http://www.archive.org/details/NationalFederationofCypriotsintheUnitedKingdomRallyforCyprusatTrafalgarSquare2009

Cypriot Lobby in House of Commons 2009

"Pressure Turkey now to meet its obligations on Cyprus"
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=28E2A60DADC873AC

---------------

Rally for Cyprus 2008:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CE43019C29408E30

Rally for Cyprus London 2008 P1 - Belgrave Square to Trafalgar Square
http://www.archive.org/details/PeterDroussiotisRallyforCyprusLondon2008P1of2
Rally for Cyprus London 2008 P2 - At Trafalgar Square
http://www.archive.org/details/PeterDroussiotisRallyforCyprusLondon2008P20f2.mpg

Lobby at House of Commons 2008:

"New Hope for Unity in Cyprus"
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CF04A3A986A899DB

and as a single clip at:
http://www.archive.org/details/PeterDroussiotisCyprioFederationLobbyBritishParliament080708

---------------

"Rally for Cyprus 2007"
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C6C50479E5376B39

and as a single clip at:
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-6439870769358513421#

---------------

See Video Gallery at:
http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk/

Cyprus - 50 Years of Independence Conference - Achievements and Challenges

2010-07-04T11:29:00.005+01:00

The Cyprus Centre of the London Metropolitan University

In association with

EPISTEME - The Association of British Cypriot Professionals
Presented:"Cyprus - 50 Years of Independence
- Achievements and Challenges”
at
London Metropolitan University
on Wednesday 30th June 2010

The main aim of this conference was to identify, through expert presentations and discussions, the forward strides achieved by Cyprus since independence and particularly post EU accession. Topics covered included political, economic, cultural and technical issues also tourism, education, identity, Cyprus’ position in the wider European family, and challenges arising through global recession.

PROGRAMME

TIMES / CONFERENCE THEMES

9.45 – 10.15 Introduction and Official Opening

Click here to view further information and the video of this session

Professor John Charalambous
Dr Alicia Chrysostomou
London Metropolitan University

Mr Peter DroussiotisPresident, EPISTEME & National Federation of Cypriots in the UK

Address - An Overview of the History of the Republic
H.E. Mr Alexandros Zenon
High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus

Inaugural Presentation – Outlining the Current Standing of the Republic
Mr Stefanos Stefanou
Government Spokesman of the Republic of Cyprus

10.15 - 11.15 Session 1 – Birth and Development of The Republic:
Achievements and Challenges

Chair: Prof Robert Holland

Click here to view further information and the video of this session

Presenters and Discussion Panel:
Dr Klearchos A. Kyriakides
Mary Plant
Kyriacos Tsioupras
Peter Droussiotis
Prof John Charalambous and Dr Tozun Issa
Yiannis Efthemiou and Andreas Ekkeshis

11.15- 11.30 Coffee break

11.30 – 12.45 Session 2 - Intercommunal Issues
Chair: Dr Alicia Chrysostomou

Click here to view further information and the video of this session

Presenters and Discussion Panel:
Mertkan Hamit
Tabitha Morgan
Mary Southcott
Alkan Chaglar
Dr Ahmet Djavit An
Costas Kleanthous

12.45 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 15.15 Session 3 - Political and Economic Aspects
Chair: Peter Droussiotis

Click here to view further information and the video of this session

Presenters and Discussion Panel:
Dr James Ker-Lindsay
Dr Klearchos A. Kyriakides
Andreas Rialas
Nicholas Venedi
Prof SM Farid Mirbagheri

15.15 – 15.45 Tea

15.45 – 17.15 Session 4 - General Discussion
Chair: Andrew Wright

Click here to view further information and the video of this session

See also the video of the Cyprus Lecture 2010
by Cyprus Government Spokesman Stefanos Stephanou
"The Need for a settlement of the Cyprus Problem
and current developments"

Click here to view video

Text of the full speech by the Government Spokesman can be seen online at:
http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/All/4DEB3CF831F5A661C2257752002906AE?Opendocument

Sponsors:
AG Leventis Foundation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
London Metropolitan University
Cyprus Airways

Organisers:
Prof John Charalambous
Dr Alicia Chrysostomou
EPISTEME - (The Association of Cypriot Professional People in UK)
represented by Peter Droussiotis and Lakis Andronikou
Prof Robert Holland
Dr Nick Ioannides
Dr Klearchos Kyriakides
Prof Farid Mirbagheri
Prof Yiannis Papadakis
Mary Southcott

Details: a.chrysostomou@londonmet.ac.uk
www.londonmet.ac.uk/international/cyprus

This Conference took place under the auspices of
The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK

www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

==========================================================

Visitors to this page are asked to add their name to the petition at:
http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com

Need for a solution to the Cyprus problem - Govt Spokesman

2010-07-02T14:47:00.004+01:00

Need for a solution to the Cyprus problem - Govt Spokesman

Introductory comments by Cyprus Centre founder Professor John Charalambous and Centre Director Dr Alicia Chrysostomou, and welcoming address by Peter Droussiotis as President of Episteme and the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, to set the context for the event featuring Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou.

Government spokesman Stefanos Stephanou then provides a historical overview and an outline of the current situation of the Cyprus problem on the occasion of the Golden Anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus. This was the opening session on 29th June 2010, "The need for a solution to the Cyprus problem and related current developments" of a 2 day conference, "Cyprus - 50 Years of Independence - Achievements and Challenges" organised by the Cyprus Centre of the London Metropolitan University in association with Episteme, The Association of Cypriot Professional People in UK held under the auspices of the National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom.

a.chrysostomou@londonmet.ac.uk

http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/international/cyprus/

http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

Video recordings of the entire conference are available on the web, and can be found on this weblog via links at http://bit.ly/cWRtZJ

See the full text of the speech by the Government spokesman at:
http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/All/4DEB3CF831F5A661C2257752002906AE?Opendocument

A 74 minute video of the briefing provided by Mr Stefanou at the London Metropolitan University about the Cyprus problem in March 2009 can be seen by clicking on links here.

Briefings provided by Mr Stefanou, as Cyprus Government Spokesman can be seen online at:

http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/months_briefings_en/months_briefings_en?Opendocument

A despatch by the Cyprus News Agency about the speech by Mr Stefanos Stefanou in London reported the following:

SPOKESMAN – TURKEY

Turkey has yet to prove its willingness for the achievement of a solution in Cyprus, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has stressed.

The Spokesman was speaking at the Cyprus Centre of the London Metropolitan University, which co-organised together with the Episteme – The Association of British Professionals, a conference entitled “Cyprus – 50 Years of Independence, Achievements and Challenges”.

“It is obvious, that the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, the principles of international and European law, and the High Level Agreements between the two communities of Cyprus, will be for the benefit of all”, he said.

Stephanou noted the benefits for Turkey in the event that a solution of the Cyprus problem is achieved.

“The solution of the Cyprus problem will be for the benefit of Turkey, which unfortunately persists in refusing to implement the UN relevant resolutions, withdraw its occupation troops from Cyprus and restore the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, so that Cyprus is reunified” he went on to stress.

Other videos about the Cyprus problem from this source can be seen by clicking on links available here

Izzet Izcan - Turkey threatens Cypriots with annihilation

2010-05-24T15:58:00.005+01:00

Interview with Izzet Izcan, Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot political party "United Cyprus", about the outcome of the 'elections' in Turkish-occupied Cyprus in April 2010 which resulted in Dervis Eroglu taking over leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community from Mehmet Ali Talat, the political situation in Cyprus and prospects for the intercommunal talks which recommence on 26th May.

Broadcast on 17th May 2010 by CyBC TV Biz Emeis program, providing bilingual items in Turkish in Greek

(With English subtitles, and transcript below, as translated from the Greek subtitles)

Clip 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmN0SZijVtU
Clip 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS8wrVocfCc
Clip 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fppsEoTZLL4

(The clips embedded below are the clips detailed above, spoken in Turkish, with subtitles in English)

Original version:

(Spoken in Turkish, with Greek subtitles)

clip 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YBquwMfxt8
Clip 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCD4hcKu-44
Clip 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj6fUMJamc8

------------

(Huseyin Halil) Dear viewers, good evening.

On 26th May the talks begin again to find a solution to the Cyprus Problem. In order to assess the process and assess the upcoming developments we have with us today the General Secretary of the United Cyprus Party, Mr Izzet Izcan.

Welcome Mr Izcan.

The new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community is Eroglu. Why did Talat lose, or, why did Eroglu win?

Your party supported Talat.

Let us begin by assessing this outcome.

(Christodoulos Christodoulou) Was it that Talat lost or was it that Eroglu won?

(Izzet Izcan) (Laughs) Talat basically lost, but those who lost are the Turkish Cypriot community.

Talat had been brought to power with our support, as also that of all the other democratic elements, with the purpose of achieving our aim as soon as possible, which was a solution of the Cyprus problem. However, in these four or five years, Talat had considerably dissapointed the Turkish Cypriot community in terms of pursuing a consistent policy. At times he made good statements, at other times he talked as if he was a spokesman for the AKP, Erdogan's party, in the north of Cyprus. To this is added the failure in the economic and also in domestic policies of his own party's CTP Government, the party from which Talat had originated.

The conservative forces, namely those who support maintaining the status-quo and who wish to see the creation of two separate states in Cyprus, such as Eroglu, Denktash, and other fanatic nationalist parties with the support of the Deep State in Turkey, the military and their representatives here had organised themselves and carried out a psychological war. At the end of this campaign they cultivated despair in the Turkish Cypriot community which saw its aspirations not coming to fruition, and the talks did not lead to the desired outcome.

There had been great expectations of the European Union and the world beyond, something which had been raised by Talat himself. But these expectations were not realised.

The forces which oppose a European solution and a reunification of Cyprus exploited these failures to conduct a very intensive campaign.

Another significant contributory factor was the disruption of Talat's relations with those forces which supported a solution. He clashed with the educational unions, the medical unions, those of civil servants who prior to the referendum had created the 'This Country is Ours' platform and those people who had said yes during the referendum.

Can you imagine a political leadership which conflicts with that section of society from which it derives its power?

(Christodoulos Christodoulou) Just to continue your thought a little, that he came into conflict with those people who had pioneered the movement to bring about better days, and had struggled for the reunification of the country .... and as if this is not enough, and if I am mistaken please do correct me ... and if he maintained a negative position towards you which may have even boomeranged on him, particularly when he gave to many of the [Turkish-mainland] settlers the right to vote. This had a boomerang effect, because as is known the largest proportion of settlers voted for Eroglu.

(Izzet Izcan) Correct.

We will also talk more about this matter later.

I have also raised this matter during meetings which I had at the European Parliament. We are faced with the following situation - the CTP 'Government' unfortunately approved the 'Immigration Law'. We did whatever we could to stop this 'law' being passed. They cooperated with the UBP and the Democracy Party and they passed this 'law'. As a result, there was a frightening increase in immigrants from Turkey. There was an increase of the order of 200,000 with the excuse that we would give them a 'legal status' and that they will then be registered. The applications for 'naturalisation' also increased.

I am not a racist - as leftwingers we love people and we don't discriminate based on identity and their origins.

As a result of this however there has been in Cyprus a dilution of our will.

During the referendum in 2004, 25% of the settlers voted no. At the next 'elections' the majority of them gave their support to Eroglu and in the last elections the CTP did not manage to get votes from this section, despite all it had done [for them].

One way or another they certainly did not vote for us.

In the 'presidential elections' the outcome was determined by the 'voters' in Famagusta, in the Karpas and in Tricomo. If we were to exclude the 12 areas where the main residents are settlers, then Talat would have won, with a majority of 53%.

Certain circles get angry when we talk about this, but the reality is that the point we have reached is that the Turkish Cypriots are a minority in the north. Until now we have been saying that the Turkish Cypriots will become a minority. Now we say that we are already a minority.

There is a lack of will - our view on the Cyprus problem, our aim for a solution, the love we feel for this country, the desire for a solution and reunification is not something which these people identify with, or at least a large section of them. Yes, a section of them may support us.

With how many 'votes' did Eroglu win in 'the elections'? With a difference of 400 'votes'! How many 'citizenships' were given to them in the last year? 1600! How many 'citizenships' are ready and waiting at this time? 6,500!

If this process continues in the same way we will not in future be able to talk about 'democratic elections' in the north, but nor about the will.

All these reasons, but also the friendly behaviour towards us ... look, despite these reasons and suppressing our feelings, having in mind the dislike for our party, we decided to act based on the logic of supporting Talat since we love this country, we want the continuation of the talks and we must keep this window open. But our support was not sufficient.

During this time, Talat had made another mistake. The way he approached the Greek Cypriot community did not help him at all. As Denktash had done, Talat constantly presented the Greek Cypriot community as 'the others'. The whole community actually, indiscriminately. Even in the criticism which he made through his repsentatives, in some of which cases he may have been right, he converted the entire matter into his propaganda about 'them and us'. This contributed to a flaring up of nationalism in the Turkish Cypriot community, of anger, and traditionally leftist voters and supporters of a solution were filled with doubts.

Our 'electorate' is 164 thousand. Of these Eroglu received 61 thousand. 103 thousand 'voters' either did not vote for Eroglu, or stayed at home. 38 thousand 'voters' did not go 'to vote'. A significantly greater part of these 'voters' belong to the democratic left and to the scholars.

When we assess all these things we see the magnitude of the despair in the Turkish Cypriot community.

Naturally, the progress which happened in the talks was not satisfactory. We could have had, and there should have been, more progress. This also caused an extra negative reaction, and so we reached this outcome.

Turkish with English subtitles: Clip 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmN0SZijVtU

Turkish with Greek subtitles: Clip 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YBquwMfxt8

(end of clip 1)
---------------
(start of clip 2)

(Huseyin Halil) But Eroglu basically did not get the result he wanted.

(Izzet Izcan) Eroglu is saying that he got 50% plus of the votes. This however does not correspond to the truth.

He received 61,000 of the 164,000 of 'votes'. This corresponds to 35 to 40%. Despite everything, Talat was supported by 43% of the community. 25% of the 'electorate' stayed away from 'the elections' and that is how this result has come about. We must bear in mind all these things.

What is right at this time is for those of us who believe in a solution and peace, and who love this country, as much in the south as in the north, in [the mountains of] Troodos [in the south] and the same with those in [the mountains of] Pendadaktylos [in the north], in Limassol, in Kyrenia. We must be united and march together and to support the bicommunal talks.

(Christodoulos Christodoulou) - yes, indeed , we must see what will happen in the future....

(Huseyin Halil) Before we go to that matter, lets take a look at something else. You were recently in Brussles where you were involved in a singificant visit. Please tell us about this, and then we can look at what future action is needed.

(Izzet Izcan) I went to Brussels as the guest of the left group in the European Parliament. The item on the agenda was the Cyprus problem and future developments, and we were asked to talk about and discuss this during the meeting of the European Parliament. We were with the Secretary General of the AKEL Party, Mr Andros Kyprianou, who was to present the views of AKEL.

The President of the left group, Mr Bisky, made the introductions and we then discussed the Cyprus problem. The matter which I raised during the discussion was the population [settler] policy. This caused intense reactions in the north and the attacks against our party continue to this day.

I had said that the Turkish Cypriot community has been led to extinction and that in the longer term they will also destroy the Greek Cypriot community.

If this situation continues in the future, in ten years time when the population in the north could for example reach one million, how easy do you think it will be to reach a solution? How easy will it be to achieve a compromise between the two sides? That is what I tried to explain to them.

I analysed the 'outcome of the elections' for them. The MEPs were also asking me what you asked me. Why did this result come about? What should happen, what went wrong?

I explained all these things.

I personally asked the European Parliament to conduct a population census in the north, in the presence of international observers. I asked that in addition to the census they should help in the creation of an investigative committee which would examine the policy of naturalisation and put an end to this process.

I asked them the following:

Are we, as Turkish Cypriots, European citizens? They answered me with a yes.

According to the Protocol, the north constitutes European territory? They answered yes.

Are we therefore your citizens?

It is the whole of Cyprus which territorially belongs to the European Union.

There is a violation of human rights.

We have reached a time when the Turkish Cypriots are facing annihilation. The identity, the culture and its very existence.

Do you have no responsibility, no authority?

Will you continue to be spectators?

Will our annihilation affect negatively the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, and put in danger the whole of Cyprus?

We placed all these matters on the table.

They were very angry with this because we demolished certain stereotypes, we went outside the confines of the official policy. We will continue to do this.

In a television program I took part in a few days ago in the north I explained that we are doing what we are doing because we love Cyprus, we have respect for Turkish Cypriots and we want to unite all of Cyprus. But if the existing situation continues, and if the opponents of the solution continue their attacks, and I see with sorrow that in the south the government and AKEL, and Christofias, are being attacked by the conservatives as I call those who benefit from the continuation of the existing situation ... they demand the immediate withdrawal of the proposal for a rotating presidency, for a weighted vote. Note that those are the same things wanted by the nationalists on the Turkish Cypriot side. They also do not accept.

There is therefore an unholy alliance between the opponents of a solution on both sides.

We must oppose this and overturn this.

(Huseyin Halil) What did the Europeans answer you?

(Izzet Izcan) As far as I could determine, the Europeans are saying the following:
"You the Cypriots will solve the problem, if you take steps towards a solution we will support you".

That is what they say. I countered to them with the following:

"This situation does not concern only the two communities, it is an international problem".

Present at the meeting, along with the Europeans, were representatives of the Republic of Turkey and representatives from the north. I asked them not to victimise Cyprus during Turkey's accession process. To not allow Turkey to use the Turkish Cypriots and Cyprus in its accession negotiations.

We support Turkey's European prospects. But Turkey must fulfill its obligations, and Europe must decide whether it will accept it.

Let them not use us because we are a separate state.

We in Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots want to live in brotherhood and peacefully with our neighbours. But here there is an injustice and the European Union has its own duties and responsibilities in this.

We placed all these issues on the table. I believe that it was necessary for us to say all these things.

What do I ask of Cypriots, irrespective of their background ... is for us not to see each other as enemies. We are no one's enemies. We are simply victims of this tragedy. All of us. There are 180 thousand Greek Cypriot refugees. They have abandoned their homes and fled to the south. There are thousands of missing people. There are people who have lost their loved ones and who are still suffering.

We must all remember that neither the coup by the Greek junta, nor the Turkish invasion have solved the problem. They have not lessened the pain in Cyprus. On the contrary they have further complicated the situation and we have been relegated to being a small part of the whole problem.

All us Cypriots must understand this. We must help each other and to unite their energies to find a solution.

What form will this solution have?

The United Nations Security Council has presented the parameters of a solution, the agreements of July and May show this clearly: Bizonal Bicommunal Federation on the basis of political equality, but ensuring a single citizenship, single sovereignty and territorial integrity. The way we will arrive at this solution is through negotiation.

Can there be an ideal solution?

The answer is No. We can only achieve the feasible, and that which is feasible we must find jointly.

But, if the other side insists wanting to discuss on the basis of two states, two separate nations and two separate peoples, while on the other side in the name of patriotism certain members of the National Council continue to insist that there can not be a Turkish Cypriot president, that they do not accept weighted voting, that too many concessions have been made and that these should be withdrawn - I see that as Cyprus we will have big problems.

(Huseyin Halil) we would now like your views about the process of the talks. The talks begin again on 26th May. Do you think there will be changes to the positions of the two sides?

(Izzet Izcan) For the last 5 years, since the referendum, the AKP has followed a strategic and tactically realistic policy. This policy envisaged that Turkey would remain one step ahead.

However this is not a policy to find a speedy solution. There is no such thing as a speedy solution of the problem. We will remain one step ahead and we will expose the Greek Cyprioit side, they said. They did this successfully until Mr Christofias came to power. The balance has changed.

With the correct policy, the policy of one-step-ahead can be exposed. However, what we need is not being steps ahead, but a solution.

Can Mr Eroglu escape from the policy established by Ankara?

The answer is no.

We however know very well that Mr Eroglu fundamentally wants a confederal solution and two separate states which would be in accordance with the founding document of his Party.

What he will try to do is to gain time. He will continue the talks and try to gain time so that Turkey's accession negotiations can continue unhindered.

Spoken in Turkish with subtitles in Ebglish: clip2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS8wrVocfCc

Spoken in Turkish with subtitles in Greek: clip 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCD4hcKu-44

(end of clip 2)
---------------
(start of clip 3 of 3)

(Christodoulos Christodoulou) To what extent can Turkey impose its views on Eroglu? To impose its positions?

(Izzet Izcan) It can impose its will.

Turkey is a big and powerful country and it has great influence in the north. It has 40 thousand troops, it controls the north economically and it has hundreds of thousands of Turkish citizens in the north. Turkey can impose its positions.

Eroglu dared try to oppose Turkey during the referendum and he paid a heavy price.

What Eroglu will do now is to appear conciliatory, to be at the negotiations table biding time and waiting for the Deep State and the opponents of the AKP to increase their power at the next elections in Turkey. That is why he has softened now and declares that he accepts the agreements which have already been achieved. He expresses disagreement only about the content of these agreements.
Consequently, it seems that this procedure will continue.

Except that we do not simply want the talks to continue, but for the discussion of the remaining chapters to be completed as soon as possible, and for the speeding up of the process so that a solution can be reached as soon as possible.

All Cypriots must understand this and we must all together contribute to achieving this, because time works works at the expense of Cyprus.

(Christodoulos Christodoulou) Exactly, and though We all know approximately, and you have outlined the positions which Eroglu is expected to follow in the negotiations, so, what hopes are there? Knowing his positions?

(Izzet Izcan) Mr Eroglu may be thinking of following such a policy, and Turkey may want him to follow such a policy, the question however is what do other parties in the game want? What do you want? What do those viewing us want? What does the Greek Cypriot side want? Do we really want a speedy solution to the Cyprus problem or are we just biding our time with the hope that we will achieve some 'ideal' solution?

(Christodoulos Christodoulou) The President of the Republic has shown he wants that which he said from the beginning, from the time two years ago when he was elected. He was very clear about what he wants, and that he really wants a solution. I don't know if you agree with me. Now, if there are certain other voices among the Greek Cypriots ... they are there, and you are quite right in what you say, but the official voice is that of the President of the Republic.

(Izzet Izcan) The President of the Republic has said that he wants a united Cyprus, that he wants a Federal solution.

In the three chapters, such as the chapter on governance and distribution of powers a large degree of convergence has been achieved.

However, I see what is happening now in the National Council. I hear what EDEK is saying, what EVROKO is saying and also DIKO which has not yet clarified the extent to which it is with the government as well as the contradictory statements by its Secretary General and of the President of DIKO ... also the double stand which DISY holds. We must talk about these things openly. At this moment the Greek Cypriot side does not present a united position.

(Huseyin Halil) In your meetings with party representatives have you confronted them, do you say these things to them openly?

(Izzet Izcan) We do say these things, and we express our discomfort. We are now used to these recordings. In the north we have seen many such. This introversion and backtracking is intended to influence public opinion and to achieve a benefit in some possible future electoral confrontation. All these things do not benefit Cyprus at all.

I would, with sorrow, at this time want to say the following ... if Mr Marios Garoyian has the right to be elected president of the repubic, if he is elected by the people, why should Izzet Izcan not also have this right? Why should you, or someone else not have this right? What do we gain if we convert this into a matter for debate?
Whom do we want in the presidency of the republic? Someone who believes in a united Cyprus, who loves our country, who will be the president of all Cypriots, who will not discriminate between people, who will serve Cyprus.

Who is it that is upset by 'weighted voting'?

I will be very happy if with weighted voting the Greek Cypriots get the right to determine by 20% our leader. Because I believe that the Greek Cypriots will contribute through their vote to the election of a democratic, progressive leader who loves our country. And we will do the same.

But who is it that react however? The Party of National Unity. Our nationalists and other such nationalists. No, they say, a Turkish Cypriot should not have a say in the election of the president.

We will get past these things. The world, Europe, have got past such things, and we will also.

We have to say openly - do we want peace or do we not want it?

We can not achieve peace by putting each-other down.

If we united our energies we can all win together. If we make this a tenet of our policy then our task will be much easier.

Otherwise Turkey will continue its accession process to the EU. However many years that may take. They themselves speak about 2023. Turkey is in no hurry. We must all understand this. That is how the problem will be perpetuated.

Do you believe that if the population [in the north] exceeds a million it will be easy for anyone to force them to leave?

Do you have the impression that if the exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties continues in the north, if there is investment on them, that the Europe of Capitalism will want any buildings demolished and the land given back to their owners?

Things will become even more difficult.

That is why it is significant for us to unite our energies to build a more beautiful country for all. We must help each other. To understand that we Cypriots are brothers, we are the true owners of this country. As far as the problem is concerned, it is not us. There may be some problems between us, but we must understand that it is an international problem.

(Huseyin Halil) We have come to the end of our time.

(Izzet Izcan) Thank you.

I continue to be optimistic. We must not lose our morale. It is the duty of us all together to unite our country as a free, independent, sovereign federation so we can secure a better tomorrow for our children. But if the confrontation between us continues, we will all be lost together.

(Christodoulos Christodoulou) Holding onto that message, we thank you very much for having been with us today.

(Izzet Izcan) I thank you.

Spoken in Turkish with subtitles in English: clip 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fppsEoTZLL4

Spoken in Turkish with subtitles in Greek: clip 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj6fUMJamc8

================

Readers of this blog are asked to support us by adding their names to the petitions at:

http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/one-cyprus.html

President Christofias reviews Cyprus reunification efforts

2010-05-24T15:46:00.003+01:00

The content of this event was all in Greek, though the first clip in this playlist provides some sections spoken in English

Cyprus President Christofias - Reviews Efforts to Reunite Cyprus and its People

Public Meeting,
London,
15th May 2010.

Organised by:
The National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom,
Britannia Road, London, N12 9RU.
Tel: 020 8445 9999 Fax: 020 8445 9977,
http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk
- pressenquiries@cypriotfederation.org.uk

Introductory welcome by Secretary of the National Federation Andreas Karaolis, and formal introduction by President of the National Federation Peter Droussiotis.

The presentation by President Christofias was followed by a Question and Answer session.

The full video of the event is available for online viewing, for downloading in order to view offline, and for embedding in website pages from links available at:
http://bit.ly/cZauqN

Alexander Downer on Resumed Cyprus talks - EPP President Martens on Cyprus problem

2010-05-24T13:54:00.010+01:00

(This blog item was delayed from early May)

Cyprus news in English Greek and Turkish reports UN special representative to Cyprus Alexander Downer having a meeting with newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Dervish Eroglu who has agreed to resume reunification talks on the basis of a Federal one state solution to the Cyprus problem as specified in UN resolutions. Also EPP European People’s Party leader and former Prime Minister of Belgium Wilfried Martens visited Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and speaks against lifting trade restrictions with Turkish occupied Cyprus, reiterates support for a Federal solution to the Cyprus problem and calls on Turkey to demonstrate its goodwill towards a Cyprus solution by withdrawing Turkish troops from the island

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HHDR-2_Tp4

CyBC News in English 3rd May 2010

Newdcaster: In northern Cyprus, the UN Secretary General's special adviser on the Cyprus issue Alexander Downer met for the first time with the new Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Dervis Eroglu. Mr Downer said he had made clear to Mr Eroglu that the UN desired the continuation of direct settlement talks from where they left off and on the basis of Security Council resolutions referred to in the joint Christofias-Talat statements of May 23rd and July 1st last year as well as convergences between the two. The UN official said he had made clear that the goal of the talks would be a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality as envisaged in Security Council resolutions and a single international personality. According to Mr Downer the Turkish Cypriot leader told him he would be happy for the talks to continue on this basis and this, as he said, satisfies the UN. Time is of major importance Downer added, and the process can not become open-ended. Downer said that for the talks to resume he (Eroglu) must first conclude the organising of his team on the Cyprus issue, consider documents and prepare his positions. He expressed the view that talks may resume in late May or early June but that he must first hold talks with President Christofias scheduled for tomorrow. Dervis Eroglu said that the process would continue from the point where Mr Christofias and Talat left off and noted that the UN suggested a May 26th resumption. He expects to have contacts in Turkey in the next few days.

Downer: "I went through the exact language with Mr Eroglu, and that is from the United Nations point of view, these negotiations are directed towards achieving a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality and a single international personality, and he is satisfied with that as the basis on which these negotiations can continue, so I can't ask for more than that."

Downer: "We have not specified time lines in the United Nations, but this process just can't be allowed to drag on indefinitely.

(Translated from the Greek) - Eroglu stated that he wishes for the negotiations to be completed within a period of time with a view for the solution to then go to a referendum. He also told Mr Downer his position regarding the lifting of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and said that both sides must approach the negotiations with a will to reach a settlement.

Eroglu (speaking in Turkish, translated from the Greek subtitles provided in the newsbroadcast): It is felt that the negotiations can begin on 26th May. That is the date when the talks can begin, and we will be talking with Mr Christofias. Our wish is for the talks to begin and for a settlement to be reached on the completion of the talks."

(Translation from the Greek report continues:) Before the end of May Mr Eroglu as well as Mr Downer will visit Ankara for talks with the Turkish leadership. Mr Downer will have a meeting with Mr Christofias tomorrow.

(News itm in Turkish was not transcribed)

[The video clip continues with extracts from the CyBC news broadcasts on 4th May]

Transcript of CyBC News in English - 4th May 2010

The United Nations are set to fix the date for the resumption of negotiations aimed at reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem. The talks were interrupted for almost two months because of an election in the occupied areas which resulted in a new leader taking over as Turkish Cypriot negotiator. Alexander Downer told reporters today after meeting President Christofias that the two sides seem happy to resume negotiations in the week starting on May the 24th. He added the exact date will be worked out, but that the most possible date for starting the meetings would be around the 26th.

Mr Downer yesterday met the new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who later said he is ready to resume talks from the point they were left off by his predecessor Mehmet Ali Talat.

Downer said that Eroglu had accepted three preconditions spelled out by the United Nations for the resuming of peace talks. These are that the talks will be conducted on the basis of UN resolutions on Cyprus, they will take into account joint statements by President Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat earlier this year which detailed progress so far, and they will resume from the point they left off before the interruption.

Downer: "On the basis of the parameters defined by the United Nations, the two statements that the two sides issued on the 23rd of May and 1st of July 2008 and on the basis that the talks should pick up from the where they left off earlier this year."

Downer: "Sovereignty is a ... the expression that is used by the United Nations is a single international personality. That's one Cyprus in the sense that there is one Cypriot passport, one Cyprus mission to the United Nations"

(Note: much controversy followed on the point of 'sovereignty' as thus defined in this statement)

Downer: "We asked Mr Eroglu to confirm his committment to Security Council resolutions and to the parameters of these talks. "

Transcribed from the same English News broadcast:

European People's Party President Wilfred Martens has expressed support for a comrehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. Talking to reporters after meeting Cyprus President Demetris Christofias Martens said the solution should be based on UN Security Council resolutions and EU principles. He said the solution must be reached by direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus. He urged Turkey to create a suitable climate for negotiations by withdrawing Turkish forces and allowing free negotiations between the leaders of the two communities. Martens said he also opposed moves in the European Parliament to activate a regulation allowing direct trade between the occupied part of Cyprus and the European Union. He said the European People's Party and its political group in the European Parliament will fight activation of the regulation because such a move would be a real danger to a negotiated solution to the Cyprus problem.

Martens: "We are trying to have a consensus between the main political forces in the European Parliament to oppose this, and to delete that regulation. Also the President here (Christofias) was very firm on this. It would be not only as I said a burden, but also a catastrophe when you try to come to a negotiated solution.

(Extract from the Greek news broadcast on 5th May not translated - it repeats the basic content of the news item in English)

====================

European People’s Party (EPP Wilfried Martens)

EPP European People’s Party leader and former Prime Minister of Belgium Wilfried Martens speaks on Cyprus CyBC TV against lifting trade restrictions with Turkish occupied Cyprus, reiterates support for a Federal solution to the Cyprus problem and calls on Turkey to demonstrate its goodwill towards a Cyprus solution.

Transcript of CyBC Interview broadcast 5th May 2010 on Apo Mera se Mera

Interviewer: Mr President, I'd like to start in a somewhat unorthodox manner -- your book is called "I struggle I overcome" -- here in Cyprus we've been trying to overcome our problem for the past 4 - 5 decades. How do you see the current prospects of the ongoing dialogue that's about to resume in late May or early June. How do you see Turkey's role in it and that of other actors involved?

Martens: It is a long period without a solution, there were several times when people tried to find a solution. The role of Turkey is extremely essential and I am convinced that if Turkey is ready to really negotiate and to accept this global [comprehensive] process of negotiation - that would be a very important argument also for the fundamental question for Turkey, the accession to the European Union. Without a solution for Cyprus, without a global [comrehensive] solution, a decision on the accession negotiations of Turkey to the European Union has to be confirmed by each member state, so I don't see a possibility that every member state of the European Union will accept an eventual accession of Turkey without a solution for Cyprus.

Question: What is the difference do you think that the new leadership of the Turkish Cypriots makes? We've heard Mr Eroglu reiterate his positions on two states and lifting of the so-called isolation and direct trade. What are your views on that and how will that affect the process that is ongoing?

Martens: I don't know the newly elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. I don't know him. In any case, I think it is impossible to accept the premises that there have to be two different states. So I think that only a negotiated solution could be a Federation between the two communities of Cyprus, and not two different independent states in the sense of confederation. And also, the United Nations have said always that in the global [comprehensive] solution you need to create a federation of the two communities.

Question: As former Prime Minister of Belgium you are very well aware of how a federation can work or cannot work. What would you advise two communities seeking a federation?

Martens: In Belgium, I was during thirty years as political leader of my party, and during 12 years as Prime Minister. Under my direction the Belgian unitarian state was transformed to a federal state, and we have three communities and three regions in Belgium - we have the Flemish community, the French-speaking community and the German-speaking community. But I can see also in Belgium people which are not happy with this solution are always speaking about confederation. And so, to create different states -- I call them mini-states, and that is the centre of Europe -- it is unbelievable for me and you can not do that. I remember that there was once a confederation between Egypt and Syria but after a short period this confederation also collapsed. And speaking about Switzerland as a confederation - take the constitution of Swtizerland, it is a Federal state. So this is the only solution, confirmed also in the resolutions of the United Nations. So it is a very - it is an impossible point to start with the conception that there have to be created two different independent states in Cyprus. No. We have to negotiate on a federation between the two communities.

If Turkey really wants to create the conditions for a positive conclusion on the negotiations to become a member of the European Union they have to use their influence also concerning this process of negotiation on Cyprus.

Question: What do you think is the purpose of Turkey's move in the European Parliament on the direct trade regulations and why do you think that certain European forces have accepted this regulation and a few words on the legality of this regulation.

Martens: So. We are convinced - we in the European People's Party and our political group in the European Parliament - that this type of action, and to accept this regulation in the European Union will disturb the global [comprehensive] process, the process of negotiation. So we are against it because it will disturb the process of negotiations . And in any case, our political group in the European Parliament opposed it. If you do not have a majority, in any case, we will ask that this draft regulation will be discussed also in the legal affairs committee of the European Parliament.

Question: Why do you think - and I obviously don't want to put you in a spot - but why do you think the Commission chose to promote this direct trade regulation, particularly at this point in time when there are ongoing negotiations?

Martens: It is a consequence of the Treaty of Lisbon, but the Commission - and I am little bit amazed did not maintain a lot of other obsolete draft regulations - I think that the office of the former responsible Commissioner Olli Rehn proposed it - but I am amazed about this because we are convinced that this will not help the process of negotiation.

Question: How do you see the prospect of this direct trade regulation going forward? Do you think it will be blocked at a legal level?

Martens: Well - it depends on the majority in the European Parliament. We are the strongest group in the European Parliament, the EPP Group, but have not an absolute majority. It will depend on the vote, if they have to vote. But they can also try to have a consensus decision in the European Parliament.

In our Political Group, the leadership of our group, will certainly try to have a consensus between the main political forces of the European Parliament - not to disturb the process of negotiations.

Question: Do you think that Ankara's move also has to do with promoting its own accession aspirations, in that way trying to connect the issues with the Cyprus problem?

Martens: Yes. My first answer to you was that one of the fundamental approaches for Turkey to create a good climate - there is now some progress in the negotiation on accession of Turkey - but to create a good mentality, to create a new atmosphere, a positive atmosphere is extremely important for the Turks to give a positive signal - otherwise there will be no real progress in the negotiations concerning Turkey's accession.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLpSpaywYnc

Appreciating the support of Cyprus by EPP Chairman Daul

2010-04-13T23:59:00.006+01:00

Open Email to EPP Chairman Joseph Daul at the European Parliament

Background information:

14 April: Posting at the European Parliament discussion area
"EP and direct trade with Turkish occupied Cyprus"

9 April - EuroNews slant on Turkish Cypriot Elections
7 April - Clarifications about the 'Foul' by EU Enlargement Commissioner Fule against Cyprus
31 March - Stefan Fule anti-Cyprus Foul at the European Union

Dear Mr Daul,

This email is being written to thank you for the statements you made today (reported on the news from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation news tonight) in the presence of Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos and Cyprus MEPs Mr Kassoulides and Ms Theocharous regarding the matter of NOT lifting the restrictions on direct trade with Turkish-occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus prior to a settlement.

I note that there is no announcement on your website on the matter at this time - the meeting did not take place until late in the day, so there may not have been time for your staff to do that as yet, but one hopes this will happen tomorrow.

http://chairman.eppgroup.eu

With so-called-elections (in the presence of so many illegal serttlers from Turkey) taking place in "Northern" Cyprus on Sunday I believe that any UNEQUIVOCAL statements made - making it clear that the prospect of 'recognition' of the 'north' of Cyprus is a NON-STARTER - would be something which is in the interests of the European Parliament and of the EU, as well as being in the interests of the negotiations in Cyprus and the majority of Cypriots (of both Turkish and Greek background).

If also feel that it would be very helpful if any statement which will hopefully be placed on your EPP website tomorrow could also include reference to the European Parliament's resolution in February 2010 - requiring Turkey to begin NOW to withdraw Turkish Troops and settlers and to return the ghost city of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants - would be very helpful to the people of Cyprus.

This message comes to you from a pro-rapprochement Cypriot activist based in the UK, and I would like to bring to your attention (and through you to other members of your staff, you group and MEP's) my own contribution towards reunification of Cyprus through the petitions online at:

http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/one-cyprus.html

http://campaignforonecyprus.com

Also - Cyprus-related videos available online at:
http://www.livestream.com/turkish_troops_out_of_cyprus

Copies to:
"Takis HadjiGeorgiou MEP"
"Ioannis Kasoulides MEP"
"Kyriakos Mavronikolas MEP"
"Antigoni Papadopoulou MEP"
"Eleni Theocharous MEP"
"Kyriacos Triantaphyllides MEP"
"Mary Honeyball MEP"
"Charles Tannock MEP"
"Marina Yiannakoudakis MEP"

and to

Peter Doroussiotis
President, National Federation of Cypriots in the UK
http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

------------

14 April item on Cyprus Mail regarding the 'Direct Trade with Turkish occupied part of Cyprus' regulation:

Regulation ‘legally and politically wrong’

Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou yesterday charged the European Commission with insisting on a regulation that is legally and politically wrong, referring to efforts to resurrect the direct trade regulation between the EU and the north.

Kyprianou repeated the view given by President Demetris Christofias on Monday that the government was not briefed by the Commission on its intention to communicate the regulation on direct trade to the European Parliament (EP).

The minister said he expected the Commission to have had a consultation with the Republic of Cyprus before choosing to send the issue to the EP last December.

“The European Commission insists on a regulation that is legally and politically wrong,” he said, noting that the regulation does not conform to the 2004 Council conclusions and is against the interests of an EU member state.

EuroNews slant on Turkish Cypriot Elections

2010-04-09T16:25:00.005+01:00

Subheading:
EuroNews slant on Turkish Cypriot Elections - with a big invisible Stefan Fule EU elephant in the background

Northern Cyprus divided over elections - Euronews

9th April 2010

Every week for the last 35 years, a small UN convoy delivers a shipment of food, gas and other ncecessities to a diminishing enclave of Greeks living in Northern Cyprus. The island has been divided since 1974 – the year Turkey sent its army to stop what it claimed was an attempted coup d’etat by the Greeks in the south.

Cut off from the rest of the island, these people stayed in their village called Rizokarpaso – which became protected under a UN ceasefire plan. The villagers say they will not leave the village where the were born. They want to die there like their forefathers They fear that if they move south, they’ll be beggars with no houses of their own, and no way of earning a livelihood.

Before 1974, there were 3,000 Greek Cypriots here. Today that number has shrunk to 260. Now, most of Rizokarpaso’s residents are of Turkish origin. They were brought in to farm the land abandoned by the Greek cypriots. In the village centre, the local mosque and orthodox church stand shoulder to shoulder. On one side of the street, Turkish cafés and shops. On the other side, the same, but in Greek.

Ali Karadogan is one of Rizokarpaso 2,500 Turkish settlers who arrived here after 1974. He came from Anatolia and was given farmland. He says he was part of a plan to repopulate empty villages and didnt have a choice. His conscience is clear. He lives in peace with his Greek neighbours.

Although the opening of borders since 2003 has brought more Greek Cypriots to visit Rizokarpaso, few stay. Chris Parpottas is an exception. He returned seven years ago to head the village’s only Greek elementary school. Born and raised here, Parpottas said coming back to his own school was a dream come true even if there are only 20 students. He says he understands the frustration of his older peers who never left and are still waiting for a solution. He himself lost his family home. But despite this loss, he claims he has no hard feelings against the Turkish settlers.

Under the 2004 Annan peace plan, Greek Cypriots would have been able to reclaim their homes in Rizokarpaso. But they would have stayed under Turkish Cypriot control. The Greek side voted no. The Turkish side, yes.

Ragbet Buyukdogan came to Rizokarpaso from Turkey when she was four years old. She lives in a house which belonged to Greek cypriots but doesn’t own it. She pays rent to the Northern Cypriot government. Chris Parpottas is her neighbour. But despite the friendly relations, she says only a solution can make her feel really at home.

Today Ragbet is helping out her younger brother, Sukru who owns a restaurant in Rizokarpaso. They are expecting 50 tourists from Iran. Sukrü was two months old when his family came in 1975. He has never left the island. He feels Cypriot and wants a solution. But he says the European Union has let them down: “Before the referendum, some EU countries promised that if we voted YES, the sanctions would be lifted. If you vote YES, you’ll get direct flights. And what happened? We said YES by a large majority and what did we get out of it? The same line, the same old life. Nothing changed.”

These issues are at the heart of the forthcoming electios in Northern Cyprus which pit current leader Mehmet Ali Talat against Dervis Eroglu, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or TRNC. They are running for the president of a country which is only recognized by Turkey. But although there are only 280,000 Turkish Cypriots, who they vote for on the 18th of April will have a strong political impact way beyond their small borders.

Talat has campaigned for a bi-federal, bi-zonal Cyprus since he was elected in 2005. But a growing number of Turkish Cypriots, tired of the slow pace and disappointed by the EU’s broken promises, want a two-state solution.

Dervis Eroglu and his party of National Unity are campaigning on this promise of a two-state solution – a popular slogan which has become political music to many Turkish Cypriots. Eroglu’s growing popularity in the opinion polls has led to a concern that time is running out not only for a Cyprus solution but for Talat’s re-election.

Talat says he understands the frustration of the Turkish Cypriots but warns a two-state solution is not up for negotiation. There are too many UN security council resolutions which forbid it.

But imagination or not, the latest polls show that Dervis Eroglu is winning. And while this could be a dream for some, it will no doubt be a political nightmare not only for the international community but for Cypriots from both sides who continue to wait for a solution.

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Could the above item by EuroNews possibly be 'tailor made' to help Stefan Fule and the proposal for direct trade with 'northern Cyprus' get a positive vote in the European Parliament on 19th of April as well as to give Talat a boost?

My own comments in uploading the EuroNews item to my youtube were as follows:

While appearing at first hand ever-so fair in its presentation of the issues and ending with incumbent 'President' Mehmet Ali Talat explaining that 'the dream' which 'the electorate' in 'Northern Cyprus' apparently proposes to vote in favour of by supporting his opponent and 'Prime Minister' Dervis Eroglu for a 'two state solution' which is contrary to all UN resolutions the item by EuroNews is a pay-per-slot advert for Turkey's current demand for an upgrade of the 'north' which no country other than Turkey itself provides any recognition to. The invisible Elphant in the election as much as in this reportage by EuroNews is EU Enlargement Commissioner Fule's efforts to get the European Parliament to push through a vote in the European Parliament on 19th April which would be counter to existing EU legislation regarding Cyprus, intended to create new realities through that vote which would run counter to the EU's existing legislation regarding Cyprus, would be counter to those very UN resolutions which Mehmet Ali Talat warns about in the closing section of the video clip, and is likely to be considered both highly immoral and offensive by the majority population of Greek Cypriots and arguably also by many Turkish Cypriots on the island. This is 'rigging democracy' both in the 'North of Cyprus' where the settlers illegally shipped-in from Turkey contrary to the Geneva convention and UN resolutions so they now outnumber indigenous Turkish Cypriots by a factor of 2 to 1 (which the EuroNews report conveniently fails to mention) but it is also an attempt to 'rig the vote' in the EuroParliament to upgrade the statelet Turkey created in the territory of Cyprus which it continues to occupy 36 years after its illegal invasion in order to produce semi-official recognition. This Euronews report is as foul as Fule's own foul against Cyprus within the European Commission, and is intended to serve the interest of appeasing Turkey and easing its way into the EU, rather than serving the interests of CYPRIOTS (both Turkish, and Greek Cypriots).

See the comments in an interview with Cyprus Foreign Minister Kyprianou screened on Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation on 6th April which provides a response by the Republic of Cyprus to what I have termed the Invisible Elephant in both the 'elections' in 'northern Cyprus' and in the engineering by Enlargement Commissioner Fule and certain other forces within the European Union - on this blog here

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Meanwhile, at today's Cyprus Mail there was the following article:

Bickering increases over direct trade

By Stefanos Evripidou Published on April 9, 2010

THE EUROPEAN socialists’ call for direct trade between the EU and the north invited a torrent of internal bickering yesterday, just a day after the government’s call for unity on the domestic front.

The government accused socialist EDEK of making “arbitrary” statements and being obsessed with blaming its handling of the Cyprus problem.

The latest incident began when the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the second largest group in the European Parliament (EP), released a statement on Tuesday supporting implementation of the direct trade regulation proposed by the European Commission in 2004.

President of the S&D group Martin Schulz said adoption of the regulation would help improve the Turkish Cypriot economy and facilitate a Cyprus solution. He said his group would support the early adoption of the regulation in the EP, which will discuss it on April 19.

Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule raised a few eyebrows when he recently sent the draft regulation to the EP, returning to an issue first raised six years ago when the EU pledged aid and trade to the Turkish Cypriots as a reward of sorts for their ‘yes’ vote in the Annan plan. In explaining why he had failed to mention the rebirth of the regulation to Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou in their recent meeting, Fule argued that the procedure had started last December with his predecessor, based on the new rules that apply under the Lisbon Treaty.

The Cypriot government had considered the effort to push through direct trade dead in the water based on the argument that this was not a matter of international trade, since northern Cyprus is part of the Republic, as stipulated in Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty. This view was supported by the European Council’s Legal Service which shared a similar legal interpretation.

However, the Commission holds a different view, which coincides with that of Turkey; mainly that the EU has failed to keep its promise to end Turkish Cypriot “isolation”. The latest step by Brussels reveals the draft regulation was more of a dormant volcano than a dead duck. One official source said the move was two-pronged, first, to put pressure on Greek Cypriots for a solution while giving Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat a much-needed push in his re-election bid.

The fact that the S&D group supports the regulation hugely increases its chances of passing the first hurdle, which is the EP.Iit must then pass through the European Council, which will decide using qualified majority voting, meaning the Republic no longer has a veto on the issue.

Schulz’ announcement was met with surprise by the government, the socialist party EDEK which is a member of the S&D group, and the two Cypriot deputies in the EP who also belong to the S&D group, DIKO’s Antigoni Papadopoulos and EDEK’s Kyriacos Mavronicolas.

Following heightened diplomatic activity, Schulz released a second “corrective” statement yesterday saying the S&D’s clear position on Cyprus is that it wants a solution as soon as possible to ensure stability in the region.

“In this sense, we have always supported financial assistance to the Turkish-speaking population and direct trade in order to strengthen the inner-Cypriot integration. However, it is evident, that in parallel the Ankara Protocol must be fully implemented. Turkey must recognise the Republic of Cyprus as it recognises every other EU-member state.”

EDEK and the government exchanged barbs yesterday over who was responsible for the clarification statement.

EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou accused the government of bad handling of the Cyprus problem, which had brought on negative international developments and invited pressure exclusively on the Greek Cypriot side, he said.

Meanwhile, Omirou attributed the second S&D statement to the actions of his party, saying he had spoken to them about the need for a corrective statement.

This in turn invited a volley of fire from government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou who said Schulz’ initial statement had nothing to do with the actions of the Greek Cypriot side.

“What madness is this... I think we should all be more careful not to create wrong impressions,” said Stefanou. He accused Omirou of trying to take all the glory for the second corrective statement when in fact President Demetris Chritofias had made intensive efforts along with Greek MEPs from socialist PASOK to counter the S&D position, resulting in a phone call between Christofias and Schulz and the subsequent second statement.

The spokesman noted that Christofias had the courtesy to inform Omirou about the latest development by phone. “Mr Omirou omitted to mention this,” said Stefanou, adding, “If Mr Omirou was going to be fair, he should have referred to that and not said ‘we acted to get this result’, because it was the president that had informed him of it.”

EDEK hit back saying that Omirou was referring to the actions that he and his MEP Mavronicolas had taken to handle the issue.

Meanwhile, the two MEPs, Papadopoulos and Mavronicolas, acknowledged in a letter to Schulz that they had not been informed by the S&D prior to its decision to support direct trade.

My own comment at the Cyprus Mail article was:

This is smelling filthier and filthier on the part of the EU as each day progresses.

But there again, international politics is indeed a pretty filthy business when it comes to serving those interests which do wish to get Turkey into the EU !

The interests of those who consider themselves Cypriots - whether Greek or Turkish Cypriots - are not best served when, while all of that is going on, we just "bicker" amongst ourselves !

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Also:

EDEK leader Giannakis Omirou was interviewed (in Greek) on Apo Mera se Mera at the start of the program (click on item 09/04/2010 at the link below) today about the Schultz statement yesterday

http://www.cybc.com.cy/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=139