Letter written by Sadettin Topukçu, TRNC Representative in Islamabad, to Daily Times published on October 10, 2002

Sir, I write you with reference to the article entitled “Turkey steps up threats of action against Greek Cyprus” published in the 28 September 2002 issue of your esteemed paper, I would like to make following clarifications for the sake of letting the readers to get the correct version of events.

First and foremost, I would like to stress that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is neither a “runaway” nor a “self-styled” state, but stands as the embodiment of Turkish Cypriots right of self-determination. In this respect, the historical and political realities are of paramount importance. Since the destruction, by force of arms, of the 1960 Partnership Republic of Cyprus and the expulsion of the Turkish Cypriot partner from all organs of the state machinery by Greek Cypriots in 1963, the two peoples have had their separate and democratically elected administrations. The Greek Cypriot administration pretended to be the “government of the Republic of Cyprus” even though in law and in fact the bi-national partnership Republic established in 1960 was no longer in existence. Having been denied all their rights under the 1960 constitution of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot people, exercising their right to self determination, had no alternative but to set up their own State in 1983.

Contrary to Mr. Borowiec’s allegation of “invasion”, I would like to underline that there is no “invasion” in Northern Cyprus. Indeed, the only invasion was the “Greek invasion of Cyprus” in 1974 which was clearly described as such by the then Greek Cypriot leader Archbishop Makarios in his speech to the UN Security Council on 19 July 1974. It should be recalled that Turkey dispatched troops to the island in accordance with the rights and obligations given to her under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, in order to prevent the massacre, en masse, of the Turkish Cypriots and the annexation of Cyprus to Greece (ENOSIS) through the bloody coup d’etat staged by the Greek Junta on 15 July 1974. Today, the presence of the Turkish Peace Force in Cyprus is a vital security requirement for the Turkish Cypriot people as it serves a deterrent against the repetition of the Greek-Greek Cypriot aggression. It is important to stress that this Force is there with the full consent of the TRNC, and with the sole aim of preserving peace and tranquility in the island.

With regards to the remarks on the issue of European Union (EU), I would like to point out that the application of the Greek Cypriot administration to become a member of EU in 1990 is unlawful under Article 1 of the Treaty of Guarantee, which states that “the Republic of Cyprus cannot participate, in whole or in part, in any political and economic union with any state whatsoever”.

Mr. Borowiec, in his article, omits to mention that with its unilateral accession to the EU, the Greek Cypriot party aims at realizing its aspiration of uniting with Greece (ENOSIS) through EU membership. Both Turkish Cypriot and Turkish authorities have repeatedly declared that the unilateral membership of Greek Cypriot administration into EU would serve no purpose other than permanently dividing the island and the Turkish Cypriot people would be left with no option other than establishing a relationship with Turkey similar to that of between EU and Greek Cypriot administration. To add insult to injury, Mr. Borowiec arrives at certain conclusions, by presenting these sincere statments as the so-called “Turkish threats”.

Federal settlement is originally a Turkish Cypriot idea. It is noteworthy that after having rejected all UN initiatives envisaging a federal solution, the Greek Cypriot side began paying lip-service to a federal solution only after the EU accession perspective, fully aware that a federal concept would be revoked by the adoption of the EU norms. The Greek Cypriot side, encouraged by its treatment as “the sole legitimate authority and interlocutor” by the EU, has turned its back on and challenged even the previously agreed and established parameters within the framework of the UN process.

The 39 year-old Cyprus issue is fundamentally a question concerning the status of the Turkish Cypriot people. Until and unless the question of status is resolved through a comprehensive settlement and the political and sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot people is acknowledged, there can be no question of entertaining the accession of ‘Cyprus’ into the EU.

Sadettin Topukçu
Representative
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus