Denktas: Yes to UN Cyprus efforts, but...
The veteran leader lays his conditions for resumption of talks: Acknowledgement of political equality, partnership in sovereignty
YUSUF KANLI
Nicosia - Turkish Daily News
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) reaffirmed his support for the good-will mission of the United Nations secretary general for a Cyprus settlement, but underlined that resumption of the negotiations on the future of the divided east Mediterranean island require Greek Cypriot acknowledgment of Turkish Cypriot political equality and partnership in sovereignty.
In an exclusive interview with the Turkish Daily News at his Nicosia presidential office, Denktas said the decision taken at the Dec. 13 Luxembourg summit of the European Union leaders to open accession talks with the Greek Cypriot administration has helped a lot of people to see some realities regarding the Cyprus problem.
A relaxed and confident Denktas stressed that developments have showed to those who have treated the Greek Cypriot administration as the government of Cyprus in contradiction with the principle of supremacy of law and in violation of the 1960 Cyprus Constitution, that by doing so they have obstructed a settlement to the Cyprus problem.
Denktas said the decision of the EU has plainly demonstrated that Turkish Cypriots were deceived over the past decades that the two peoples of the island were conducting intercommunal talks on the basis of equality. He said with the EU decision the intercommunal talks were buried in history and that if there would be any new round of talks between the two sides on the island, those talks could only be held between the two sovereign entities.
"I want to reiterate my call to those countries who have been saying that they want to contribute to a settlement, to help us reach an accord but because of wrong decisions and ignorance have so far only helped to the prolongation of this issue. Please see that you have been wrong all along," the veteran Turkish Cypriot leader said in an appeal to the international community to treat the two sides on the island as political equals.
"Turkish Cypriot people will never give up Cyprus. Turkey will never give up Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot people won't leave Cyprus to Greek Cypriots. Turkey won't do either. Turkey won't leave Turkish Cypriots to the mercy of Greek Cypriots. There is the issue of national honour and pride of Turkey," he added.
Stating that latest developments showed that Greek Cypriots were definitely against a federation, the Turkish Cypriot leader said "Do they think that I will sit (at the negotiations table) and continue talking federation with them because verbally Greek Cypriots still pretend to be for federation. Am I that fool? Is that what Turkish Cypriot people deserve? They will sit to talk federation but wearing the hat of the "sole legitimate government" would do everything that would bury hopes of federation. That has been what Greek Cypriot leadership doing. Now, the EU has taken that load over my shoulders. Nothing is left to discuss with Greek Cypriots."
Denktas further added that if Greek Cypriots want union, they should demonstrate that wish by lifting the 34-year-old embargo on the Turkish Cypriot people.
TDN- Mr. President, the United Nations is preparing to launch a new Cyprus initiative early next year, but it appears that the European Union, with its latest decisions, as you have put it clearly on various occasions, has rendered futile any new initiative. How do you see a way out from the current impasse?
DENKTAS: I believe this latest decision of the European Union has showed to a lot of people interested in the Cyprus issue some realities regarding the Cyprus problem. I hope the developments have showed to those who have treated the Greek Cypriot administration as the government of Cyprus, in contradiction with the principle of supremacy of law and in violation of the 1960 Cyprus Constitution, that by doing so they have obstructed a settlement to the Cyprus problem.
Why? Because, Greek Cypriots have demolished the partnership republic established in 1960 with the aim of usurping the title of the government of Cyprus. The day they were told: "You are the legitimate government of this republic," they no longer had any motivation to reconcile with us and share power with us.
We keep on explaining to the world that this injustice has to be stopped. We keep on explaining to the world our equal partnership in the sovereignty of the island.
We keep on telling the world that they were not able to tell us to accept the Greek Cypriot administration as the sole government on the island, representing the Turkish Cypriot people as well.
We have been saying that Turkish Cypriots were one of the two founding partners of the republic of Cyprus and that they cannot be told, "Your government is the Greek Cypriot government."
They did not listen to us. They did not take us seriously because they had a master plan for Cyprus: To make Cyprus sooner or later a Greek Cypriot land and through them a Greek land, console and perhaps compensate Turkey. They could not still understand that beyond a fundamental geopolitical issue, Cyprus is a matter of national honour and pride. They insisted in not understanding this point.
Now, I think they have hit their noses on the wall of reality, for the first time asking themselves: "What's happening, why is there this resistance?"
For years they have deceived us that at the negotiations table that the two communities were represented on equal footing, but at the same time have provided the opportunity to Greek Cypriots, with their second hat of "sole legitimate government" to make the whole island a candidate for European Union membership. And, in doing so they have not thought for one second why Greek Cypriots were taking such a step.
Why do they want EU accession so much? They still believe that EU accession will facilitate Cyprus talks and they have that point in the EU decision.
Greek Cypriots have applied for EU accession as the "legitimate" government of the unitary Cyprus republic, not as the representative of the partnership government. They have not considered the rights of the Turkish partners in doing so, but have filed the accession bid in an effort to avoid such a talk.
(Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos) Clerides is on record saying that, with EU accession, the guarantee scheme would become obsolete and whatever was offered to Turkish Cypriots under bi-zonality would be taken back.
What are these? These are the so-called three liberties. The understanding that the three liberties -- the right to settlement, travel and of owning property -- could be restricted. These were fundamental for a bi-zonal federation.
And Clerides further added that by achieving those aims Hellenism would succeed its goal in Cyprus. That was why they filed the EU application.
Now, we are asked to join in the Greek Cypriot EU train. Which train? What is the destination of that train? The destination is Greece, which failed with the 1955-1958 terrorism, with the 1963-1974 attacks (on the Turkish Cypriot people) to make Cyprus a Greek land, upset the balance established between Greece and Turkey with the 1960 treaties. Consider our equality obsolete and join in the Greek Cypriot train.
Look at the latest decision of the EU. It refers to the "government of Cyprus" and "all communities." That is they have converted the "partnership republic" of the two founding partner communities to government and "all communities."
That was what Greek Cypriots have been saying for years and what we have been opposing saying: We are not like the Latin, Armenian or Maronite peoples. They are minorities. They have joined the Greek Cypriot people and in the 1960 agreements they have accepted their political future in being with the Greek Cypriot people. Whereas Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples were founding partners.
Europe ignored our that response as well and with a last minute amendment in the decision regarding Cyprus they have tried to render us a minority like Latin, Armenian and Maronite peoples. That is, EU has solved the Cyprus problem. For EU Cyprus Republic is a unitary Greek Cypriot republic and Turkish Cypriots, Latins, Armenians and Maronites would join in and support the application filed by Greek Cypriots as the government of that unitary state.
That is, whatever parameters existed so far on the table are devastated. The (United Nations) secretary general's "two peoples are equal and the relationship between the two is not one of majority and minority but one of two equal peoples sharing the same homeland" principle has been killed by the EU.
The notion that the two sides would reach a Cyprus settlement without outside interference is dead. The principle that the EU issue would be tackled after an eventual settlement and would be subjected to separate referenda of the two peoples of the island has been butchered.
What's left on the table? The notion that the guarantee treaty and the guarantee scheme would continue, continued presence of (Turkish) troops. All these fundamental parameters were ignored by the EU. Bi-zonality and bi-communality, as well, were no longer on the table because EU invited Greek Cypriots to accession talks as the "sole" government. What happened to bi-zonality?
They say federation will be established in the future and when federation will be established we will be in (the EU) also. We have been saying that it is because Greek Cypriots are considered as the "sole government" of the island that they did not resolve the Cyprus problem for the past 34 years. Now, you are crowning them with the crown of EU candidacy and expect them establish federation with us. They won't do it. By taking this step, you have killed the prospect of a Cyprus federation.
Furthermore, we look at the statements of Greek Cypriot leaders. (Former Greek Cypriot leader, current Speaker of House of Representatives Spyros) Kyprianou, (Chairman of socialist EDEK party) Vassos Lyssarides, (Communist) AKEL, the Archbishop, EOKA (Greek Cypriot paramilitary organizations aimed at uniting the island with Greece) establishments, youth organizations, press.
In none of these there is any reference to the federation mentioned in the Set of Ideas. There is no talk of rights and powers of the Turkish Cypriot people in such a federation. No one is saying "We are for a federation which is supporting the rights of Turks also." On the contrary, they say now that the EU has given a green light for accession, they no longer want a federation in the fashion it was foreseen in the Set of Ideas and that is safeguarding Turkish rights.
Therefore, I want to reiterate my call to those countries who have been saying that they want to contribute to a settlement, to help us reach an accord but because of wrong decisions and ignorance have so far only helped to the prolongation of this issue. Please see that you have been wrong all along.
Turkish Cypriot people will never give up Cyprus. Turkey will never give up Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot people won't leave Cyprus to Greek Cypriots. Turkey won't do either. Turkey won't leave Turkish Cypriots to the mercy of Greek Cypriots. There is the issue of national honor and pride for Turkey. There is the issue of our security and future. Today, we are commemorating the anniversary of the Dec. 21-22, 1963 vandalism.
TDN: The "Bloody Christmas."
DENKTAS: We are remembering the anniversary of Bloody Christmas. We are still facing those who staged that. These people not only do not remember what they have done, they say the Cyprus problem started in 1974 (with the Turkish intervention on the island) and claim that there was peace on the island until 1974.
They have deceived the world with such lies and pressing hard on us. They think they have all rights, that they can come to the North (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) and settle here again. Impossible. Impossible.
When he was first elected, U.S. President Bill Clinton declared:
"I foresee a world based on the rule of law and on democracy."
He pledged to concentrate all his efforts to achieve that goal. Now, where is rule of law in Cyprus? Rule of law dictates that no one should expect Turkish Cypriots be left to the mercy of Greek Cypriots.
Rule of law states that there is a partnership republic on the island whose sovereignty is restricted. (According to 1960 treaties establishing the Cyprus Republic) the island cannot become a member of any organization in which Turkey and Greece are not already members.
Rule of law states that these principles cannot be devastated under any condition. For the past 34 years, these principles have all been demolished. At the 20th year, in order not to remain under that wreckage, our people have exercised their free will and democratic will. The free will of a people expelled from a partnership republic and established its Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
But, the United States, Britain, which is a guarantor country (along with Turkey and Greece for the independence of Cyprus) and Russia and declared a step taken with the free and democratic will of a people as "non, void and illegal" and once again honor the Greek Cypriot administration by calling it the sole legitimate government of the island.
We are revolting. We are revolting as human beings. We are revolting as Turkish Cypriot people. We are revolting as a people aligned with the principles of Europe, and respectable to the leadership role of the United States and say: "You cannot do this to us. You have no such right."
They remain unaffected. They are not affected in any way. We say Greek Cypriots have usurped our sovereignty, they say, "Make a deal, it (your sovereignty) will become apparent."
What kind of thing is this? What kind of justice is this? For 34 years the economy is devastated under inhumane embargoes, no one is asking Greek Cypriots "What are you doing? You have no such right. That's illegal."
Planes to and from northern Cyprus have to make a stopover in Turkey. Waste of time, money. How can tolerate all these? As if these were not enough, The International Court of Justice has endorsed the embargo on us. That is the European Union that we will have to face.
Now I ask, what they expect from us? Greek Cypriots don't want federation but pretending that it wanted it kept us at the negotiations table for years. Do they think that I will sit (at the negotiations table) and continue discussing federation with them because verbally Greek Cypriots still pretend to be for federation. Am I that fool? Is that what Turkish Cypriot people deserve?
The Greek Cypriots will sit to discuss federation, but wearing the hat of the "sole legitimate government" and doing everything possible to bury hopes of federation. That has been what Greek Cypriot leadership doing.
Now, the EU has taken that load off my shoulders. Nothing is left to discuss with the Greek Cypriots. If Greek Cypriots want union, they should tell that to me. It was not the Turkish Cypriot people who withdrew from the partnership republic.
As the Turkish Cypriot side expelled from the partnership state, I defended myself, my rights, established my own state. If they want union, they should first recognize my state, acknowledge its sovereignty.
At Glion (the second round of the latest face-to-face talks between Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides) Clerides, after receiving the green light from the EU that accession talks would start, told me that he would not discuss sovereignty with me. He said he would only discuss an amendment in the Constitution that would enable establishment of a federal roof for the existing sovereign republic. Which constitution? The one which has not been applied for the past 34 years? Or the one that Makarios declared "dead and buried"? Are we expected, as if resurrecting Christ, to declare dead and then resurrect the constitution? Do they think that we are fools?
In the Set of Ideas it was stated that the two sides would transfer some of their powers to the central government but retain residual powers. We were saying that, as is the Swiss case, these residual powers are sovereign rights and that if Greek Cypriots one day, as they did with the 1960 agreements, come up and say, "We did not like this system," we would retain our sovereign rights. That was why we wanted it.
These all vanished. At Glion I asked Clerides, "What's this missile business? Why are you giving bases to Greece? Within the framework of which agreement are you doing all these and how can you bring paid soldiers from Greece? Why are you continuously buying sophisticated arms systems. Are these compatible with the negotiations process? Why are you doing all these? Abandon these."
He replied: "Denktas, now we are meeting as leaders of two communities. But the things you have cited are government applications. We cannot halt the government's functions because talks are continuing and you have no right to intervene in them."
I have got this message. What is Clerides saying? Missiles will come, bases constructed will be offered to Greece, Greek planes will be deployed (in southern Cyprus) and no one can intervene in these. From where did he get that right? If we assume that he is the president of the Republic of Cyprus, he has no such powers. That means, he is acting as the head of the Greek Cypriot government in south. Then, he has all the right. But, then, I say they have no right to intervene my republic.
Can't the United States and Britain say at least what (Italian Foreign Minister Alberto) Dini said? If the countries interested in a Cyprus settlement do at least what Dini said and declare that there are two peoples, two democracies, two administrations and two entities on Cyprus and if these two states wanted to be united this fact should be acknowledged, then the Greek blackmail won't work and justice will prevail. Only then will Greek Cypriots need us, will come to us and talk seriously ways of settling the Cyprus problem.
For Greek Cypriots, Cyprus is theirs and the Cyprus problem is a matter of occupation. For them a solution to the Cyprus problem is sending home occupiers, return of their refugees. But, what about my people? My refugees?
Clerides responded to the questions in Glion. He said social housing could be constructed for Turkish Cypriot refugees. People who were made refugees three times in 34 years will be settled at social housing!
These are people who will vacate villages with all their means. Villages have forest, grazing land, houses everything. And, these people would be settled in concrete housing blocks with nothing. In a settlement, he expects me to ask my people to become refugees again? Who can expect that from me? Who can ask this society to bow to that much injustice. That's impossible.
Everyone should open their eyes to realities. They should ask what we have on Cyprus. The European Union, with Greek binoculars, has a wrong concept of Cyprus. They should change those glasses and see that there are two states on the island. Recognized or not, there are two states.
If people want these two states to be united, Europe should be able to say the least what Dini has said. Otherwise, there can be no union on Cyprus.
I have asked them, for the past 24 years, Turkish Cypriot people are not oppressed, are not killed. Greek Cypriot people have become the richest in the Mediterranean basin.
Who is irritated by this? If this separation is to be ended, the two sides should at least be respectful to the other. If this separation is to be terminated, Greek Cypriots should immediately end the inhumane embargoes on Turkish Cypriots and acknowledge our existence. It should tell to its people what they have done to us from 1963 to 1974.
Do you know, Greek Cypriot young people are coming to the North. When we explain them what had happened during that period, they listen to us with surprise. They do not know because they were not told.
I wish (Turkish) TV stations that are watched by Greek Cypriots would prepare documentaries on those years and air them. Turkish Cypriots never did harm to Cyprus. They were attacked and they defended themselves. With Turkey's help we survived. Otherwise we would have been annihilated. Without knowing this, reaching a Cyprus settlement is impossible.
I am often told, "Don't live in the past!" Are they telling Clerides that he should stop living in the past as well?
If he says the Cyprus problem started in 1974, I say it started ten years earlier, in 1964. I am not living in the past but I want the future be built on a foundation which includes all the necessary security elements that would prevent us live the same tragedies.
I want a sound agreement which would not let the same tragic things happen. For that I place the criteria once again: Equality is fundamental. Sovereignty is fundamental.
We have not surrendered our sovereignty to Greek Cypriots. We are often told, "We cannot accept your sovereignty because we have recognized the Greek Cypriot administration and accepted that the Cyprus Republic still exists."
This is wrong. If you see alive something that died 34 years ago, if you see as a people who would surrender to Greek Cypriots, you are not seeing properly. Go and change your glasses. Be a little bit merciful. Union can be achieved between entities that respect each other. It cannot be achieved with outside pressure.
Now, U.N. Special Envoy Diego Cordovez is expected to come in March. He will come. We cannot say, "Don't come." Anyhow, we do not object the goodwill mission of the U.N. secretary general. We want it to be continued. But, in continuing, the secretary general should abandon hiding himself behind wrong U.N. Security Council resolutions. He should first work to amend that resolution?
TDN- You mean the 1964 resolution?
DENKTAS: The 1964 resolution (dispatching U.N. troops for Cyprus for the first time) and particularly the one adopted in 1983 that branded the TRNC illegal and appealed to the world not to recognize us while reaffirmed that Greek Cypriots were the "sole legitimate government" of the entire island.
If the secretary general does not act on these issues and eradicate them, we may end up having a confrontation between the two motherlands.
TDN: Mr. President, there is an anticipation that somehow you will be convinced to attend the talks and that a formula will be found. On the other hand there are efforts to boost the so-called "human contact" on the island. There is a suggestion that Turkish and Greek Cypriots from different walks of life should come together and discuss the Cyprus problem also.
DENKTAS: They have discussed them. They have tested this up to now. In a way, those efforts were quite beneficiary because rational Greek Cypriots who come to this side (of the Cyprus buffer zone) whether or not they know the 1963- 1974 incidents, they say: "You have solved this issue. We did not think the North would be this advanced. You have settled. You have built roads, ports and new buildings on former Greek Cypriot lands. We in the
South are doing just the same and building houses on former Turkish Cypriot lands. What are you politicians talking about?"
Another idea of foreigners is that Turkish and Greek Cypriot people should come together and make festivities. Some 1,500 from our side, some 400 from the Greek Cypriot side participate in such events. These are meaningless efforts. They don't see the reality.
Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots were living together until the night of Dec. 20, 1963. We were working in the same offices. But, the moment a political signal was given, our closest Greek Cypriot friend tried to ambush us, captured weapons and started attacking us.
The Greek Cypriot political will is for finding a way to establish its hegemony over us. This is a fight to politically dominate Turkish Cypriots and for Turkish Cypriots never to surrender to Greek Cypriots. There is no need to bring the two sides together and force upon them makeshift formulae in order to change this reality.
When the two sides come together, a strong body would come and ask them, "Hold on, who are you, you are two old partners. What happened to your partnership? It collapsed. Who collapsed it? You collapsed it and expelled the Turkish Cypriot partner. But, see the Turkish partner did not surrender, established its own entity. Do you now want the reestablishment of the partnership? You will have to accept this reality. Cyprus is not yours."
If someone could tell this to Greek Cypriots and Greece with a brave face, that's it. It's that easy. Otherwise let Denktas and Clerides speak for another 100 years, they won't be able to achieve anything. Why? Because there is no equality. Because Greek Cypriots want to usurp the title of sole government of Cyprus.
For a settlement, this title should be taken from their hands. I kept on explaining these with practical approaches and became known as "Intransigent Denktas," "Peace-opponent Denktas." I won't step back, a settlement in Cyprus requires this.
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