Apostolides v. Orams Case - "The Party is Over"

The expression on the face of Cherie Blair Booth QC in this image seems appropriate to re-publish from the post on this blog in April 2009 with reference to the judgement issued on 19th January by the British High Court on the Apostolides v Orams case, in which she was counsel for the losing Orams couple.

View the actual judgement online here

Video of a 24th March 2010 Seminar organised by the Lobby for Cyprus, with Constantis Candounas and Meletis Apostolides and other speakers, providing an update on this case as well as about the February 2010 judgement by the ECHR in the Demopoulos v. Turkey case is available by clicking here.

The Cyprus Mail's Stephanos Evripidou reported on the 22nd of January

"Foreign trespassers and illegal developers of Greek Cypriot properties in the north were warned in no uncertain terms yesterday that “the party is over” by the lawyer for Melitis Apostolides in the Orams case. Constantis Candounas warned that there was “no free ride” anymore for those who exploit Greek Cypriot properties in the north following the victory in the English Court of Appeal on Tuesday. “My only message to trespassers and illegal developers in the north is that the party is over. I’m sorry,” he said. The English Appeals Court ruled in favour of Apostolides, ordering the Orams to demolish the home they built on his land in Lapithos, return the property and pay back rent (£300 for every month since 2002 plus interest) and legal costs, estimated at around £1.35 million sterling."

From now on the judgements of Cypriot courts which refer to properties in the occupied territories can be registered and executed in the United Kingdom, and of course also in the other countries of the European Union.

The significance of the judgement by the British Court was also highlighted in statements to CyBC by Mr Apostolides's British counsel (contained in the 19th January news report in Greek, provided below)

"It means that the English courts are prepared to vindicate the property and human rights of people who have been driven from their land by force of arms. I think that's very important. It means that we take seriously the rule of law - and I was worried at one stage that the English courts might want to try and avoid that issue, because its difficult. The other thing which I think is really important is that it sends a big signal to people, saying - 'be very careful if buying property in the north of Cyprus. Find out who owned it previously'."

The Press Release by the Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus is here

Clip 1 - News in English followed by midday news in Greek including a telephone interview with lawyer Costantis Candounas about the outcome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Cna1P5YnQ



Clip 2 - midday interview with Costantis Candounas
followed by the main evening news, all spoken in Greek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzqNqtiZJVA



Clip 3 - main evening news in Greek continued, followed
by the news in Turkish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOU0RigUASU




The CyBC's Eponymos program on the evening of 19th January carried a one hour discussion on the outcome of the case, chaired by Emilia Kenevezou, featuring four heavyweights from Cyprus' legal profession - Kypros Chrysostomides, Andreas Angelides, Achilleas Demetriades, Christos Clerides



Apostolides Orams Outcome - The Party is Over 1of2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wagVeXt9TuU
News in English, then the news in Greek 21/1/10



Apostolides Orams Outcome - The Party is Over 2of2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Xfx0FmQ5M
News in Greek continued, then news in Turkish 21/1/10

Talat Cyprus Governance proposals rejected

The Governance and Power-Sharing proposals which were submitted by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to the Government of the Republic of Cyprus via the UN special adviser Alexander Downer shortly before the commencement of the 'intensive talks' for a solution of the Cyprus problem in January 2010 were rejected as entirely unacceptable following an emergency meeting of leaders of the main Cyprus political parties.

This letter by President Christofias to the UN Security Council permanent members and heads of EU member states - describes the official reaction to the proposals prepared by Ankara.

"The (proposals) show that the Turkish Cypriot side supports positions which contravene the agreed basis and the sensitive balances which have been shaped during decades of negotiations. It is not possible to expect the Greek Cypriot side to accept positions which are beyond the balances and in fact to such a degree. Even if we were to accept them, it is certain that they would be rejected in a new referendum, disastrous for the prospects of a mutually acceptable settlement of the Cyprus problem."

The video embedded below is the main evening broadcast by Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (in Greek) on 8th January, which described the contents of the Talat proposals, with a translation into English provided below the video.



Newcaster - RIK reveals the Talat proposals, which are far from constructive, he proposes confederal elements, the document has been provided to party leaders, a critical meeting will be held with President Christofias on Sunday morning just before the opening of the intensive negotiations. Concern among the leaders, some of them see a failure of the talks. We will have the details in a moment, after a look at other items in the news.

Newcaster - Good evening ladies and gentlemen, RIK tonight reveals the details of the Talat proposals submitted by Mehmet Ali Talat in the negotiations conveyed to President Christofias by Alexander Downer. Talats proposals are anything other than constructive, containing many confederal elements. The document is already in the hands of the party leaders. There is already intense debate, with some predicting the failure of the talks. Lets first have the details about the Talat proposals from Panagiotis Georgallis in the newsroom. Good evening Panagioti.

Panagiotis Georgallis: Good evening Emilia, and good evening ladies and gentlemen - as you mentioned, the document with the proposals by Talat is with the party leaders, and we have a copy. As you mentioned earlier we reveal the contents of the proposals which were conveyed to President Christofias by Alexander Downer.

The document is entitled - The Turkish Cypriot Comprehensive Proposals on the Government and Power Sharing Chapter ...

Kenevezou - one of the chapters which will be discussed from Monday during the intensive negotiations ...

Georgallis - exactly ... the document consists of seven pages and consists of ten sections preceded by a short introduction which states the basic principle that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Lets us take the sections one at a time ...

Georgallis - The first one concerns the Executive, which according to the Talat proposals for a President and Vice President who will serve for a 5 year term and there is reference by the Turkish Cypriot leader to a rotating Presidency. Talat proposes, ladies and gentlemen, that the Greek President's term should be for 3 years and that of the Turkish Cypriot for 2 years, meaning there is a differentiation from the proposal by President Christofias which envisaged 4 years for the Greek Cypriot President and two for the Turkish Cypriot President. The Talat proposal also suggests that the Council of Ministers should consist of 12 members and he proposes these should be 7 Greek Cypriots and 5 Turkish Cypriots and refers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that of European Affairs should not be held by members of the same constituent state. The same is sought for the following pairs of Ministries, Ministry of Finance and Internal Affairs, and those of Natural Resources and Transport. Talat also wants there to be a positive vote by both President and Vice President on all decisions which means that there will be a veto power on all decisions which is different to the initial proposal by the Turkish Cypriot leader for there to be the right to a veto on 4 issues, namely Foreign Affairs, defence, security and finance.

Kenevezou ... in other words this will now apply to all matters ...

Georgallis - The second section is called Legislature, which in his proposal, Talat says there should be a majority of two fifths of the members of the Senate from each community for any decision to be passed, and the Talat proposal additionally suggests there should be a simple majority of senators present, but not according to the document, less than one quarter from each constituent state. The same article states that representation in the Senate will be 50/50 while representation in the House of Representatives will correspond to that of the population ratio and the Talat proposal contains the phrase 'on the basis of internal citizenship status'.

Georgallis - Section 3, Administration, envisages the establishment of organisations to regulate the financial and monetary sectors, of competition, of private pension schemes, the maintenance of the social security fund, regulation of macro-economic stability, and of cooperative institutions.

The proposal states that these organisations will not have equal composition, but 4 members from the Greek Cypriot, and three members from the Turkish Cypriot side. However, we must mention that for any decision to be made there will have to be 2 positive votes from each community.

The fourth section concerns external relations. Here it is mentioned that the constituent states will have the right to make agreements with other states and international organisations which are recognised by the state of United Cyprus. Suc international agreements will have to not be contrary to the policy of the Federal state so that problems will not be created in the international relations of the Federal State.

The Talat proposal envisages that Cyprus will continue to have a special relationship with Greece and Turkey and that the balance between the two countries will be maintained as set up by the 1960 agreements and by the document of the new settlement.

The fourth section also stresses that Cyprus will provide equal treatment to Greece and Turkey, and this is a significant point, including as it says, the four basic freedoms until such time as Turkey becomes a member of the European Union. The four basic freedoms are not specified but we suppose this means freedom of settlement, of movement, of the right to acquire property, and to enjoyment of services.

Kenevezou - this effectively refers to the chapter on settlers, does it not?

Georgallis - effectively, the Talat proposal covers not only the Turkish settlers but also of any Turkish citizen who comes to Cyprus.

To go on to section 5, which is called basic principles for the solution of the Cyprus problem, the Talat proposal mentions among other matters that the two constituent states will have equal status while it also mentioned that there will be a single sovereignty which will be shared equally by each constituent state.

Section 6 refers to the hierarchy of laws, where it is proposed that Federal laws which refers to the authority of the Federal government will be superior to those of the constituent states, but the Talat proposal also mentions that the laws of the constituent states, with reference to their own authority, will supercede those of the Federal state.

Section 7 refers to the old legislation and treaties, with the proposal stating that claims for demands or responsibility which originate prior to the agreement which will be reached, in other words before the settlement of the Cyprus problem, will be settled by the constituent states.

Section 8 is entitled, authorities, and proposes that the agricultural and fisheries sectors will fall under the jurisdiction of the constituent states while those of health and defence will fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal government. The proposal states that civil aviation will be under the jurisdiction of the federal government, however it must be stressed that the Talat proposal envisages two FIRs which will belong to the constituent states, therefore each constituent state, ladies and gentlement, will have administrative rights in the FIR which contradicts the statement made by Talat that civil aviation is also under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

To go on to section 9, entitled police - this refers basically to representation, with Mehmet Ali Talat proposing that the federal police force will be 50/50 from each constituent state, and we are talking here about clearly numerical equality, as is the case also in the last section which is entitled civil service and states that the civil service, known as EDY, will consist of a president and a vice president and four members, two from each community, with the proposal stating that the president and vice president will rotate every year.

This is the document of the proposals by Mehmet Ali Talat which was conveyed to President Christofias by Alexander Downer and which we reveal tonight, and that we are to expect is that this will be discussed by the party leaders during their emergency meeting on Sunday, following which we will know the reaction by the government and by the political parties ...

Kenevezou - we saw the President today not wanting to make a statement on the matter prior to the emergency meeting of the party leaders on Sunday and before the beginning of the intensive negotiations - however we already have comments by political leaders which will see in due course. Thank you Panagioti, and good night.

We go now, ladies and gentlement, to Turkey, where the Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu referred to the proposals submitted by Mehmet Ali Talat as a serious initiative, and we have also had statements by Mehmet Ali Talat himself ... our Constantinople correspondent Anna Andreou will tell us more ... good evening Anna.

Anna Andreou - Good evening from Constantinople ... the latest deliberations are such as should be taken seriously, said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, characterising the package of proposals by the Turkish side as a serious initiative. In an interview with Channel 24, Foreign Minister Davutoglu said that Ankara will continue with its determination on the Cyprus issue. He refrained from providing details about the proposals, saying only that all parties now know about the deliberations of the Turkish side. 2010 will see an intensification of efforts to solve the Cyprus issue, said Ahmet Davutoglu. Referring to the Annan Plan, he said it was a plan which was submitted after great and long-lasting efforts, but now, he said, these efforts are made within a new context.

Mehmet Ali Talat also made significant statements today, who, while also refraining from providing details as to the content of the package, said that what is being published about the package does not correspond to reality.

... back to you Emilia.

Kenevezou - thank you Anna, and good night.


Some Links:

Alithia (Cyprus Newspaper, in Greek)

Phileleftheros (Cyprus Newspaper, in Greek)

Greek Reporter (Athens source, in English)

Transforming Turkey into a Bizonal Bicommunal Federation with Kurds

Reader Discussion - 10th December to 16th December 2009:

Reader comments (Cyprus-related) about the recent EU Enlargement Committee and Foreign Ministers COREPER Decision about its decision regarding the Assessment of Turkey's Accession Process.

The article itself (link) ads little to enlighten much, but the discussion in the 'reader comments' deserve reading through, and do note that the page is interactive, allowing you to vote in favour of (but not against) comments you like (and if you create an account, can add your own comments to the continuing discussion)

Quoting from one of the latest entries:

"I predict that Turkey will not survive unscathed the most recent Kurdish revolt as a result of the ban of the pro Kurdish party.

"In my mind, if it was possible in Cyprus, then it is certainly possible in Turkey to be speaking of the transformation of the Turkish Republic into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, if only to save it from partition, as the ONLY SOLUTION TO AN EVER INCREASING KURDISH AWARENESS."

Transformation of Turkey / Kurdistan into bi-zonal bi-communal federation | Reader Comments @ Aphrodites troubled island | The Economist -

http://bit.ly/6rhLQK

Turkey for Thanksgiving and Cyprus problem unresolved

Turkish Cypriot Union protest Turkey's Policies


This blog-post is intended to highlight the discussion held in
the Euro Parliament yesterday 25th November 2009 to debate
the Report submitted by the Commission and EU Enlargement
Commissioner Olli Rehn about the EU's continuing negotiations
regarding Turkey's possible accession to the bloc 5 years after
it has failed to implement the Ankara Agreement which was part
of the terms for its commencing such a process.

View video of the European Parliament's discussion:



This comes during the week when Turkish Cypriot Unions staged
massive demonstrations outside both the Turkish Embassy in 'northern'
Cyprus and outside the 'parliament' of the vassal state it created by its
invasion of the island 35 years ago - as part of the expression of
indignation by indigenous Cypriots against the policies pursued by
the Republic of Turkey in Cyprus.

In addition to members of the Turkish Cypriot Teacher's Union, other
participants in the ongoing mobilisations against Turkey's policies on
the island include workers in the electricity and telephone unions as
well as those who work for the 'state' and for the 'municipalities', doctors,
nurses -- all the prestige sections of Turkish Cypriot society.

The video immediately below is from the 29th October demonstrations
which saw 19 people arrested:



The video immediately below is from the even larger 23rd November
demonstration during which tear gas was used by 'the authorities'
during which 17 people were arrested.



The section below provides an extensive translation from a particular
episode of the Cyprus Broadcasting Coropration's Biz-Emeis bilingual
Greek-Turkish programme, broadcast on 16th November.

The passage which is most relevant to bring to the attention of the world,
and to members of the European Parliament - as the EU prepares for the
December EU Leader's Summit which is to decide on the future of
Turkey's accession process in the light of the 'lack of progress in
normalising relations with the Republic of Cyprus'

... is the following:

"... the message we want to send out through our actions in
the north is directed against Turkey. Because the ones who
impose the policy of assimilation and integration is none
other than the Republic of Turkey. On the one hand it tells
the whole world that it desires a solution on the island yet
on the other it tries to assimilate and integrate the north
of the island."

The entirety of the interview is highly revealing of how educated
indigenous Cypriots who are of Turkish ethnicity feel about Turkey's
policies on Cyprus, and so the content of the videos embedded
below has been translated into English and is exclusively available
from this blog. Other publishers are encouraged to re-print the
content provided below.


Turkish Cypriot Unions protest Turkey's policies 1of3

(Turkish Cypriot Announcer): Good evening dear viewers.
We are with you again for the first programme of the week
with purely Cypriot matters. Our programme is proud that
from this first programme we are closely following current
events. So tonight we will deal with yet another current
matter, and in order to be better informed about the
problems which are being faced by trade unionists, we
have with us in the studio the Secretary General of KTÖS,
Mr. Şener Elcil and the Executive President of the Union,
Mr. Burak Maviş.


(Titles)


(Turkish Cypriot Interviewer): Good evening ladies and
gentlemen - during recent days we have seen the
intensification of union struggles in the Turkish Cypriot
community. There are strikes and demonstrations, and
as always in all the protests KTÖS is to be found in the
front line. We have with us in the studio the 'General
Secretary' of KTÖS, Mr Sener Ercil and the 'Organising
Secretary' of the union, Mr Burak Maviş, who will update
us on the aims of the unions and provide us with a first
assessment on the demonstrations which are taking place
(in the 'north') ... welcome.

(Greek Cypriot Interviewer): Welcome.


(Turkish Cypriot Interviewer): What are the aims of the
unions and why have they mobilised and become involved
in such intensive action? Are the reasons economic ones,
political ones, or are there other reasons?

(Şener Elcil): The reasons for the mobilisation are not
economic ones. These are political decisions which are
related to economic matters. As you know, there have
been systematic policies which are intended to achieve
integration of the north part of the island with Turkey, as
well as policies which are aimed at the assimilation of
the Turkish Cypriots.

Within the context of this policy, firstly the names of
Turkish Cypriot villages have been changed, forcing
Turkish Cypriots to take on new names.

Furthermore, all economic activities are directed by
Turkey. A vassal administration has been created in
the north of the island ... and because they had no faith
in the Turkish Cypriots they have transferred a numerically
greater number of people (from Turkey) making them
'citizens' and have thus undermined the political will of the Turkish Cypriots. Now there are efforts underway to make
the economy in the north of the island similar to that of Turkey.

Within the context of these efforts a law has been prepared.
This law had been prepared during the period when the
CTP (Republican People's Party) had been in power. Having
realised they couldn't impose this 'law' on the CTP they
went ahead with 'early elections'. With the advent to
power of the UBP (Party of National Unity), which,
obeying Turkey's instructions, is trying to enforce this
'law'.

Now, regarding the provisions of this 'law'- all new employees
in public service will start at half the salary. Though a new employee would have started on 1000 euros a month, this
will now be reduced to about 500 euros. I am talking about
the gross salary. Moreover, the salaries of existing
employees will be reduced by one third.

In parallel with this however, the salaries of those holding political office will be increased.

We therefore feel that this law is not based on economics
but on politics. In this way a political elite is created which
will implement Turkey's directives. All those will get good
salaries and will implement Turkey's policies while the rest,
and in particular the Turkish Cypriots who will not be able
to make ends meet with a low salary, will be forced to
emigrate from the island.

Consequently this is all about a law intended to create emigration of the Turkish Cypriots from the island.

For those who govern us, the significance is only the size
of the population, because with the policy of "A Turk leaves,
a Turk arrives" (a Turkish Cypriot leaves, a Turkish settler arrives) the Turkish Cypriots are of no importance to them.
This is a plan which is intended to destroy, to decimate, our community.

The rights of the unions are also abolished in collective bargaining. This is another way to close the unions because
it is the unions which resist such anti-democratic practices.

This 'law' consequently has political aims and that is the
reason why we are reacting with demonstrations and other actions.


(Question from Turkish Cypriot interviewer): Mr Maviş, the other day there was a big demonstration. Certain media downplayed this demonstration, saying for example that participation was minimal. How do you evaluate participation in the demonstration?

(Burak Maviş): It is natural for such events to be misrepresented in the media which are under the influence of the dominant side. Such information appeared in newspapers such as Kibris, Vatan and Volkan - newspapers which are dependent, and are being directed. The other newspapers did not convey such (misrepresented) news. On the contrary, they published articles and commentaries which showed the success and effectiveness of this demonstration.

At this point I would like to thank the Turkish Cypriot media
which support such demonstrations by the unions.

Participation in the demonstration, particularly among
the Turkish Cypriot teachers approached 99%.

Some of our members did not take part in the strike for
political reasons. Our position towards them will be
determined by the provisions of our charter.

Our strike was crowned with success due to the
participation also of the other unions. We had a large
march. Students of the Educational Academy, the
Turkish Cypriot equivalent of the Cyprus Pedagogical
Institute also participated in the march. There was a
large and enthusiastic procession.

Despite the fact that our 'Constitution' guarantees the right to
strike and to demonstrate, the 'police' blocked us.

(Question from Turkish Cypriot interviewer): they obstructed you?

(Burak Maviş): ... they set up roadblocks.

We continued with our march, we bypassed the roadblocks and marched towards the point where we were due to have our demonstration, in front of the 'Parliament' and we protested where we were supposed to. This disturbed certain circles. Such a confrontation, and our getting past the roadblocks disturbed the authorities and their supporters, and those who wish the assimilation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Our strike was successful.

I do not know how far such news will reach, however as long as Turkish Cypriot society remains determinedly (at our side) it will provide the appropriate answer to such news-reports.


(Question from Turkish Cypriot interviewer): Were charges brought against some of those who took part in the strike?

(Burak Maviş): Yes, and I am one of those.

19 participants in the demonstration have had charges brought against them for disrupting the task of 'the police' and for attacks against 'policemen'.

This is all about particular people who are in the front line.

Leading persons in the union, among which are included the Executive President of KTÖS, Guven Baroglu, were instructed to report to 'the police' headquarters where charges were brought against them.

As a result of these summonses, all 19 of us went to the headquarters with our banners. Once there we declared that we did not commit the offences with which we have been charged.

This is all about a fascist tactic, the same as was practised in Nazi Germany and in underdeveloped countries - something which we felt to have been the case in Cyprus from 1955 until 1974. Using the right to democratic action we provided, and will continue to provide, our response to such practices.

Such coercion can not intimidate the Turkish Cypriot teachers, the Turkish Cypriot working classes, or Turkish Cypriots generally.

(end section 1)
==================================
(start section 2)

Turkish Cypriot Unions protest Turkey's policies 2of3

(Question from Greek Cypriot interviewer): In your response earlier, you mentioned that underlying all these problems is the arrival of masses of settlers. I have had cause to ask you in the past, and I don't know if at this particular time there are specific numbers - how many settlers are there currently? Are such figures available?

(Şener Elcil): It is very difficult for anyone to know what the
population is in the north of the island. Different sources
provide varying figures as regards the population there.
It is said that it is about one million - in his statements
Talat has referred to 500,000 - officially it is put at 264,000
- I believe however that this is a misleading number.

When ones goes out in the streets one sees the difference.

According to one study which we carried out in schools two years ago - of the students in our schools, 37% are children of citizens of the Republic of Turkey, 19% are children of settlers who came to the island after 1974 and who have been registered as citizens, 9% are children of settlers who are married to Turkish Cypriots, 1% are children from third countries. Children whose parents are indigenous Turkish Cypriots make up 34% of our students.

This shows that only one third of our population in the north
are Turkish Cypriots.

Approaching your question from this perspective, and if we do accept that Turkish Cypriots in the north are 130,000 we must therefore be talking about a population three times that.

Consequently it is not possible to talk about a specific
number ... but when we present these factors, as scientifically proven - we evoke a terse response - this is a matter which disturbs those who seek assimilation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Whoever does talk, or refer to such matters, does so at risk to their life.

As a result, the population of the north is unknown.

At a time when there are negotiations between our leaders, and if as a result of these we do proceed to a referendum, we as a union of Turkish Cypriot teachers demand, as we have incidentally also done in the past - that there should be a census of the population overseen by foreign observers.

I wish to stress that if there are to be those who will decide
on a solution and the future of our island, these should be the Cypriots.


(Question from Turkish Cypriot interviewer): As unions you
will of course naturally continue your industrial action.
Can you talk to us a little more about your plan of action?

(Şener Elcil): The north is entirely under Turkey's control and that of the government of the day.

We say this.

One of the reasons why on the day of the demonstration the 'police' attacked our comrades was because of a banner they were holding. This banner said that the Republic of Turkey is treating Cyprus as its province. We showed this banner in front of the Turkish Embassy. This disturbed them a lot.

Therefore the message we want to send out through our actions in the north is directed against Turkey. Because the ones who impose the policy of assimilation and integration is none other than the Republic of Turkey. On the one hand it tells the whole world that it desires a solution on the island yet on the other it tries to assimilate and integrate the north of the island.

Therefore, all our actions, and all our demonstrations, are
aimed at the officials of the Republic of Turkey. Behind all the attacksagainst us, the 'police interrogations', the attacks and the threats against us - is the government of the Republic of Turkey.

At this point I would like to give out the message that we will
continue our actions, the strikes and our demonstrations. We will wage our political struggle so that this 'legislation' will not be adopted, and if it is adopted we will continue until it is repealed.


(Question from Turkish Cypriot interviewer): According to some polls, people consider teachers to be in the category of those who are better-off and they do not understand why they should be on strike. How would you reply to that?

(Şener Elcil): The best organised and most militant union is the Teachers Union. That is how it has always been in the past, before the union was even created. In intra-communal clashes the teachers have always been at the forefront.


(Question from Greek Cypriot interviewer): To continue on from the question set by my colleague, and given what you have told us, other than your members who are participating en mass in these demonstrations - are there also simple Turkish Cypriots who are with you? Do they take part in your actions?

(Şener Elcil): We are not struggling alone. We have at our side the workers unions - the workers in the electricity and telephone unions as a common platform, there are those who work for the 'state' and workers in the municipalities, doctors, nurses -- all the prestige sections of society ... if you are asking why the teachers are doing this, the answer is that the teachers are not struggling for money ... the union of Turkish Cypriot Teachers is struggling for civil rights.

We are not involved in this struggle in order to improve our salaries or even our standard of living. We can achieve that if we do want to do that. We are affected however when the parents of the children we teach are working in bad conditions and are not adequately rewarded. The teachers are a part of society and as such we struggle for the welfare of the society, it defends its democratic rights and the creation of a social order where there is respect for human rights.

(end section 2)
------------------
(start section 3)

Turkish Cypriot Unions protest Turkey's policies 3of3

(Question from Greek Cypriot interviewer): We have only a
few minutes left - we would also like to know your future
plans. Given these actions which are already under way
- what will be your next steps? What will be your next
actions? Are there appeals?

(Burak Maviş): The struggle of the Turkish Cypriot
Teachers which started in 1968, with the understanding
that the problems of teachers are related to civil rights,
will continue into the future. Even though there are
economic reasons, our struggle is mainly a political one.
The efforts which began in 1955 and in 1974 led to the
de-facto division of the island and the separation of the
two communities, will continue into the future.

Turkey will continue to implement its policy of political assimilation of the Turkish Cypriots. Our union and the
Turkish Cypriot community will continue its struggle
against efforts to assimilate its identity, its culture, its
religious consciousness, its language (dialect) and the
social life of the Turkish Cypriots.

We will resist Turkey's efforts to implement the policy
which it implemented in Hatagi when it annexed it to
Turkey in 1939. We understood a long time ago that
we will not achieve our goal through 'elections' to
'parliament' and the kind of discussions which have
occurred from 1974 to this day.

In the north of the country there is a policy of "get up
get up - sit down sit down" ... there are those who
give the orders and those who implement them. The
elections are simply intended to choose those who
will implement the orders.

We know that the essential problem is that Ankara is
behind all the interventions which occur in the Turkish
Cypriot community. In setting our direction and our
actions we strive through strikes and demonstrations
to increasingly realise our society, to bring it with our
part so we can continue our struggle by projecting a
more radical and dynamic position.


(Question from Greek Cypriot interviewer): In closing,
during the last few seconds, will these actions continue,
and to what extent are you determined to implement
even more dynamic measures? Very quickly

(Şener Elcil): We are determined.

I do want to clearly lay down an important distinction.

As a Turkish Cypriot, when I cross into the south, I am
treated as a Turk. When I cross into the north I am
regarded as a Cypriot. I am first and foremost a Turkish
Cypriot. This must be understood. I want to remind
everyone in Cyprus that they must respect the struggle
which the Turkish Cypriots are involved with in the north.
We have been waging this struggle for many years now,
for the survival of our community, to not be assimilated
and we will continue this struggle to the end.


(Turkish Cypriot interviewer): We thank you, and I wish
you good luck with your struggle.

(Greek Cypriot interviewer): We thank you very much,
and we hope that your struggle will be productive.

Turkish Cypriot Newspapers 24th Nov 2009