At the outset, I would like to
reiterate the readiness of the Turkish Cypriot side to resume negotiations under
your auspices and our determination to work in goodwill towards the final
settlement of the Cyprus question. On the other hand, we share Your Excellency’s
assessment that the professed willingness of the Greek Cypriot side towards this
end needs to be demonstrated not just in words but in action. As you have
repeatedly pointed out, the Turkish Cypriot people voted in favour of your
comprehensive settlement plan and accepted a solution on the basis of its
provisions. It is now for the Greek Cypriot side to convince the world, in
general, and the Turkish Cypriot side, in particular, that their overwhelming
rejection was not a demonstration of their total refusal of a settlement based
on power sharing and equality.
In this context, we fully support
Your Excellency’s request that the Greek Cypriot side should put its final
comments in writing and clarify its objections to your plan in order to provide
for a solid assessment of the way forward. Clearly, this would be an important
step in the right direction if the Greek Cypriot leadership is truly sincere in
resuming negotiations with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable settlement.
As I have already stated, your
unequivocal efforts aimed at resuming the negotiations on a genuine basis as
well as ensuring that the Greek Cypriot side shall display the necessary
political will towards a successful outcome, are most welcome. As the Turkish
Cypriot side, we firmly believe that your call on the Greek Cypriot side
deserves the support of all those who sincerely desire a speedy political
settlement in Cyprus. It is in this spirit that I have personally started
meeting the resident Ambassadors of the Security Council member states in Cyprus
and conveying our foregoing views in support of your position. My initiatives
towards urging the Security Council members to extend their active backing to
Your Excellency’s efforts shall continue.
H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the
United Nations Organization
New York
I only hope that the Greek Cypriot leadership realizes
before long that the only way to solve the Cyprus question is to compromise
under UN auspices for a mutually beneficial settlement and starts cooperating
towards that end. As the Turkish Cypriot people and leadership, our proven
conviction in this regard continues and we stand ready to extend the necessary
contribution to a mutually acceptable agreement based on the principles of bi-zonality,
political equality and power sharing. It would simply be unfair, however, to
expect the Turkish Cypriot people to indefinitely await a resolution and be
committed to an uncertain future under the all-out restrictions that have been
weighing so heavily on their political, economic and social life until the Greek
Cypriot side deems the time ripe for dictating its terms for the settlement of
the Cyprus issue.
Please accept, Excellency, the
assurances of my highest consideration.
Serdar R. Denkta
Letters On Cyprus
Issue 