STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ASSOC. PROF. TURGAY AVCI 

            The Undersecretary of the Greek Foreign Ministry has made a defiant statement  including remarks to the effect that the guarantorship right of Motherland Turkey –the only security for the Turkish Cypriot people- based on the International Agreements, should be abrogated in the event of a possible agreement. This statement demonstrated that the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo are aiming at eliminating the effective and continued guarantee of Turkey and thus depriving the Turkish Cypriot people of the most important support they have been enjoying. 

            We would like to emphasize once again that the people of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will definitely reject any agreement that will eliminate or dilute the guarantorship right of Motherland Turkey. The Turkish Cypriot people knows very well that the prevention of the repetition of the past agonies and ensuring a peaceful  future is only possible with the continued guarantee of Turkey. Everyone is aware of the fact that peace has been prevailing on the island since the time of the landing of the Turkish Army on the island. The Greek officials should not forget that, the Turkish Armed Forces also saved the lives of the Greek Cypriots against the Greek military junta.  

            It is evident that a European Union, which fails to fulfill its own promises that are less important to the Turkish Cypriot people than the guarantorship, cannot be a guarantor under any circumstances. The Turkish Cypriot people certainly believes that the EU, which accepted the membership of the Greek Cypriot side before reaching an agreement on the island  despite all the objections of the Turkish Cypriot side, will not ensure their security.  

            With his statement, the Greek official revealed that they are also aiming at  shifting the address of an agreement in Cyprus from the United Nations to the European Union. As we have repeatedly stressed, the address of an agreement in Cyprus is the United Nations, and its parameters are those UN parameters that were accepted by all the relevant parties. The Turkish Cypriot people are still supporting a new partnership on the basis of  the political equality, the equal status of the Constituent States and bi-zonality for preventing the repetition of the past agonies and doing its utmost towards this end. 

            We, as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, believe that at a time when the expectations for a settlement in Cyprus have raised, the international community should not ignore the statements that are being made by the Greek and Greek Cypriot officials and the new administration in South Cyprus in particular. Their statements demonstrate that they share the same views with the Papadopulous’ administration which does not want to reach a  settlement.  

28 April 2008, Lefkoşa.