Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-07-21

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Speech by the Turkish Foreign Minister in occupied Cyprus where a huge military parade took place to celebrate the occupation of Cyprus by Turkish troops in 1974.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader addressed the ceremony for the occupation of Cyprus by Turkish troops.

[03] Turkey's Erdogan: We have taken very advanced steps as regards the Cyprus issue.

[04] The Communal Liberation Party alleges that the Confidence Building Measures aim at presenting the Cyprus Republic pleasant abroad.

[05] Turkey to include the telephone code of the Cyprus Republic in its telecommunication system.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Speech by the Turkish Foreign Minister in occupied Cyprus where a huge military parade took place to celebrate the occupation of Cyprus by Turkish troops in 1974

The speech is as follows:

"On this significant anniversary, we are very proud to share the just tranquillity and happiness of the Turkish Cypriot people. The entire Turkish nation sincerely shares the joy felt by you, our brothers. The peace operation brought peace, stability, and tranquillity to Cyprus and our region. The `TRNCī is founded on the just struggle waged by the Turkish people and on the peace operation that Turkey launched exercising its rights based on agreements in a bid to secure peace and tranquillity on the island. The day of 20 July is a national day for all of us, and together we will continue to experience the just pride of this day.

We view 20 July as the symbol of defending and safeguarding the rights and laws and equal status of the Turkish Cypriots in line with their aspirations for peace and stability and their ideals. History has demonstrated to us that only nations that have the strength to take ownership of their future and that are able to take action together for the sake of the cause they believe in can attain the right to life and guarantee their future. Acting on this premise, the Turkish Cypriots have known how to assert their rights and their freedom by overcoming all kinds of impossible situations. Several factors have certainly played a role in this achievement. The unity of faith and views and the closing of the ranks around the national cause, however, have probably constituted the primary factors.

The entire Turkish nation has closed ranks around the struggle waged for the Cyprus issue. The determination demonstrated by the Turkish Cypriot people in preserving their unity and solidarity lies at the basis of the distance covered in the struggle for existence and freedom which we have been waging hand-in-hand and in a unity of heart for approximately half a century. The task that falls on us now is to continue on our path in the same spirit of unity and solidarity.

The pluralistic democratic structure -- with its government and opposition -- built by the Turkish Cypriot people constitutes their biggest gain and wealth. A fully democratic political and legal system that respects human rights and meticulously safeguards contemporary values is currently in place in north Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot democracy is a source of pride for the Turkish Cypriot people. The `TRNCī has a growing and developing state system based on its self-sacrificing people, contemporary educational institutions, independent judiciary, and established democracy. This achievement was attained through your efforts. The Turkish Republic, in its turn, will not leave you alone on this path. It will continue to provide every kind of political and economic support to the very end.

Sincere efforts were exerted by Turkey and the `TRNCī to reach a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem and for years they have made every sacrifice to this end. The Turkish side fulfilled more than its share on the way to a just and lasting solution on the island based on an equal partnership. The Turkish Cypriots accepted the plan submitted by the United Nations for the sake of peace and democracy and integration with the world. The Greek Cypriot side, however, clearly rejected a solution or the establishment of a shared future with the Turkish Cypriots, as a result of the negative propaganda waged by the state. This result once again clearly showed that the Greek Cypriot side is not ready for a new partnership and a conciliation. This referendum also clearly demonstrated that the Greek Cypriot policy of accusing the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey of intransigence for years by distorting the facts is devoid of any foundation. Everyone now clearly knows which side wants a just and lasting solution and which side is obstructing a solution. Despite all this, the `TRNCī will continue to serve as a factor of peace and stability in its region.

The Turkish side has brought the Cyprus issue to a certain point through determination and faith. We are now facing a new agenda in Cyprus. Very important developments were registered in north Cyprus since 1970, although the Turkish Cypriot people were subjected to embargoes and unjust obstructions without any legal basis in all fields, including trade, economy, transportation, tourism, and sport. However, we want the international community, too, to clearly see the realities and the injustices; and we are exerting efforts to this end. The members of the international community made pledges and promises, before and after the referenda, with regard to the elimination of the injustices encountered by the Turkish Cypriots for over 40 years. The time has now come for these promises to be fulfilled.

I would like to state candidly here that the steps taken until now have failed in reaching the stage of ending the isolation or totally alleviating the burden of the Turkish Cypriots. In this context, we are carefully watching the work that the EU is conducting along these lines, and we are expecting the positive conclusion and implementation of these measures. Both the EU and the entire world should not forget that they will be tested on the basis of the commitments and promises they made.

We want and expect concrete steps to be taken with regard to introducing direct flights to the `TRNCī, and enabling the `TRNCī to establish direct commercial relations with third countries and to develop bilateral relations in the areas of sports, culture, and education -- in short, with regard to taking measures that will enable you to integrate with the world. Both the `TRNCī Government and the Turkish Republic are doing their share on this subject, and they will continue to do so until the end.

From here, I call on the international community: In view of the Greek Cypriot vote in favor of a lack of solution, the time has come to respond to the Turkish Cypriots' desire to integrate with the world. In saying this, we are not closing the door to a just and honorable solution based on political equality and true partnership in the future.

My dear brothers, our government is resolved to adopt every measure to ensure that you, our brothers, live a more tranquil and prosperous life. We are seeking ways to solve the existing problems in the economy, together with the `TRNCī Government. We are obliged to rectify together the existing economic structure which does not respond to today's economic needs and which has turned into an obstacle against development, to renounce past models which have been tried in the past and whose failure has been proven, and to establish a more productive and fruitful economic structure that takes into account the entire community. The progress registered in the political field must be supported by economic development.

A new and positive atmosphere has currently been created on the island in terms of the Turkish Cypriots. This positive atmosphere should be put to the best possible use if the `TRNCī is to undertake the expected leaps in the economic field. Within this framework, we are trying to render the `TRNCī economy capable of competing in the international arena by developing and deepening the economic relations between Turkey and the `TRNCī. The new economic program signed during the visit last month of Abdullatif Sener, deputy prime minister and state minister in charge of Cyprus affairs, is also aimed at attaining this vision. I believe that the Turkish Cypriot people, who have brought the `TRNCī economy to its current level through their creative and resistant character, will attain prosperity at a faster rate within a free economic order.

Moreover, we are realizing big investments within the framework of the special incentive model developed with the aim of turning the `TRNCī into an attractive investment area. We are very gratified to see that satisfactory developments are being registered in infrastructure projects in fields such as tourism, energy, transportation, ports, higher education, and forestry, which we are conducting jointly with the Turkish Cypriots. The projects are being completed at a fast rate, and new ones are being added to the existing ones. Significant developments were achieved in the transportation infrastructure of the `TRNCī, and the network of highways has been completed to a great extent. Especially the water and energy problem, which constitutes an expectation related to investments in the `TRNCī, will be fundamentally solved in the medium term.

Our government is displaying a close interest in the issue of increasing the investments in north Cyprus. Our government is providing the necessary incentives to render these investments attractive to the Turkish private sector. I believe that the `TRNCī Government, in turn, will display great sensitivity on this subject and exert every possible effort to encourage investors -- primarily the Cypriot investors outside Cyprus and Turkey, the investors in Turkey, and the investors in third countries -- to choose Cyprus.

The point reached today was attained as a result of Turkey's self-sacrificing contributions and your own efforts. We believe that the Turkish Cypriot people have the energy and strength to bring about economic development and growth. You can rest assured that we will not leave you alone on this road in the future.

The honorable president and my esteemed Cypriot brothers, feel tranquil and secure. As in the past, the `TRNCī and the Turkish Cypriot people will always find their motherland Turkey at their side. Our cooperation and solidarity will continue to grow stronger, but it is vitally important that the Turkish Cypriots maintain in the future the spirit of unity and solidarity they have displayed to date. We are confident that this will be the case.

With these feelings and thoughts, once again in your presence I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the brave Turkish Armed Forces which conducted the peace operation."

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader addressed the ceremony for the occupation of Cyprus by Turkish troops

The speech is as follows:

"Esteemed brothers, we are celebrating the Peace and Freedom Day with enthusiasm together with our brethren who have arrived from the motherland. I congratulate you on this day. May there be many more.

Mr Erbakan, the esteemed member of the government of Ecevit, the architect of our salvation, is among us. I thank him before all of you here for that historic decision.

I held a phone conversation with Mr Ecevit yesterday. He extends us his respects and love. He extends his respects and love to the Turkish Cypriots, who deserve peace and who have done all in their power in the name of peace. I convey this to you.

I thank Mr Gul, on behalf of all of you, for the speech he delivered and for the trust he has shown. With his permission, however, we are concerned. It is beneficial for the Turkish nation to know this. Today we are marking the 30th anniversary of the Peace and Freedom Day. I am asking to those who, a few months ago in the name of peace, sold us an agreement that created chaos on the premise that peace cannot be prevented in Cyprus, that will tie the Turkish Cypriots to the Greek Cypriots in the name of unification, that will settle 80,000 Greek Cypriots in this beautiful state, that will render half of our people refugees and ruin them, that will remove the Turkish troops from the island, and that eliminate Turkey`s rights over Cyprus by making a mockery of the guarantee agreement. Had the Greek Cypriots said yes as well, could we have marked this day here today? What kind of peace would we have celebrated? Had the Greek Cypriots said yes as well, half of our people would be refugees today. Turkish troops would, step by step, begin withdrawing from the island. Are you not familiar with the Greek Cypriot administration?

As Mr Gul has already pointed out, we want our rights. Sovereignty is our right.

A free existence on these territories obtained at the expense of our lives is our right. Conciliation with the Greek Cypriots under equal conditions is our right. The state cannot be sacrificed and sovereignty cannot be renounced because we currently have deficiencies and problems.

We are a state recognized by the motherland. If Cyprus falls into the hands of the Greek Cypriots and the Greeks, if Cyprus is removed from our hands, separated from Turkey, and linked to others because of the strategic rights of the EU, then Anatolia will cease to be a country open to the seas. If today we are celebrating this Peace and Freedom Day, it is because despite the oppression of the Greek Cypriots and the indifference of the world, the Turkish Cypriots, through the support of the motherland and in the belief that Turkey will eventually arrive, resisted for 11 years and refused to surrender and leave these Turkish territories, which were obtained at the expense of some 70,000 martyrs, to the Greek Cypriots. This holiday is the holiday of my people who resisted. This holiday is the holiday of Anatolia which, together with us, said that Cyprus is Turkish. This holiday is the holiday of those who sacrificed their lives by trusting in their motherland. It is the holiday of the martyrs and the war veterans.

The motherland is constantly referring the concept of national spirit and national unity. Yes, we want national unity. We, however, want the national spirit to be kept alive. We want our youths to respond to the question of what the national spirit is by saying: It is my sovereignty, it is my unity with the motherland, it is my state. We do not want a youth that lives in a fantasy world, that will renounce all this in the name of unification with Europe and the world. We do not want a community that will be ruined by renouncing all this.

My dear brothers, let us have a look at these words by Ataturk: Nations that have made a habit of seeking ways to a life of comfort without work, sweat, and education, are doomed to first lose their dignity, then their freedom followed by their independence. In the past months, there have been those who told our people: If you say yes, you will not be required to work, you will not have to sweat, you will live in comfort, you will unite with the world and get rich. Euros will be pouring in. Everything will be well. Will those people now write the words of Ataturk in their hearts? I will repeat: You cannot live without working, sweating, and learning. Learning what? Your history. If you are celebrating peace today, then you cannot live without knowing what you went through until you arrived at this moment of peace. You cannot renounce your state by seeking means to a comfortable life. If we make a habit of living in comfort without work, sweat, and education, then we will lose our dignity. Had the Greek Cypriots said yes, then today we would have had an existence devoid of dignity, having fallen on the lap of the Greek Cypriots. We would have been disconnected from Anatolia and separated from Turkey. We do not deserve this. You do not deserve this. You will preserve your dignity and your freedom, and you will strengthen your ties with the motherland by claiming your state. All this does not mean that I do not want peace. There is peace. This peace has been brought to Cyprus.

I call on Papaioannou though he has long been dead. Now there are those who have taken his place. Papaioannou said that had Turkey not arrived in Cyprus, then 10,000 AKEL [Progressive Party of the Working People] members, who had already been included in the list, would have been shot. I am calling on the 10,000 AKEL members. Turkey gave you life, just at it rescued us from mass graves. Today the same leaders are shamelessly referring to the barbaric invasion. If they are in search of barbarism, then let them go and see the mass graves. If they are in search of barbarism, if they are asking what genocide is, then let them recall what they did for 11 years, let them recall what they forgot and tried to make the world forget. Taking Turkey to courts and seek compensation without remembering all this, without taking into consideration what they did to us, without seeking forgiveness and compensating us for their deeds is the epitome of rejecting peace.

Mr Gul, we are following your activities. We are waiting for planes to land at Ercan [Tymbou] Airport. We are following and supporting the activities you and your government are conducting in a bid to ensure that the promises made are kept. They, however, did not set any preconditions the day they made these promises. They told us: Say yes, and you will get all this. Now they are setting conditions. We will give provided we can do it together with the legitimate Cyprus Government. We will give directly, but you have to renounce your state and your sovereignty.

Mr Gul, the esteemed representatives of my precious motherland, we shall travel by camel, but we shall not renounce our sovereignty. Please do not accept these conditions. Acceptance of these conditions is tantamount to renouncing the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". It is tantamount to renouncing our sovereignty. It is tantamount to the Turkish Cypriots breaking away from the motherland. We cannot accept this. We cannot give an account to our martyrs. Please tell the entire world that these conditions are tantamount to injustice. Turkey can proudly tell the world that it has accomplished nothing other than peace with regards to the Cyprus problem that it has done the right thing, and that it has knowingly accepted the Annan plan and made sure it was accepted in order to prove this. You have fulfilled your duty. Now the Cyprus issue is not an obstacle on your path. We, however, are now being told: Since you said yes, you should not seek sovereignty. Since you said yes, you should not want a state. Turkey should encourage this line. Let Turkey make sure that this is accepted.

Mr Gul, we believe that you will not bow down to them. You are the only country that recognizes our state. We are proud. Had the entire world recognized us and had Turkey not, then we would have died out of distress. You recognize us, and the world does not. Let them feel ashamed. We do not care in the least, but please do not leave us alone. Your recognition is our strength, our power, and our future. May God protect our Turkey. May God grant a very long and happy existence to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."

[03] Turkey's Erdogan: We have taken very advanced steps as regards the Cyprus issue

When a journalist asked: "Turkey wants to accede to the EU. However, Turkey is yet to implement some of the European Parliament's decisions, such as withdrawal from Cyprus, minority rights, and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. What are the assurances that you will obey the European Parliament's resolutions in future?"

Erdogan replied: "Turkey implements all those resolutions that can be implemented. It does not implement the ones which could not be implemented. Like other countries.

' Those who tell us withdraw from Cyprus should have said the same to those who should have withdrawn from Cyprus at the appropriate time. There again we have put the peace process in motion. Now I want to ask you: Regarding the full membership issue while border disputes continue, the south Cyprus has rejected the unification. And the "TRNC" has said 'yes' to unification with south Cyprus. As a matter of fact a country which has border disputes can not become an EU member. But, Cyprus has become full member. In fact in the name of Cyprus it became EU member. They have told us to finish off this issue 'by 1st May'. We, both Turkey and the "TRNC", used all our constructive power and the effort. We did all we could. Just see to it, at this moment south Cyprus is a full EU member and the "TRNC" is not. Where is the promise that the United Cyprus Republic was going to be the EU member? I think you have to find the answer to this. Then easily we will reply to other questions. You should not worry about it," Erdogan concluded.

[04] The Communal Liberation Party alleges that the Confidence Building Measures aim at presenting the Cyprus Republic pleasant abroad

As the paper writes, the CLP stated that the Measures announces by the Cyprus Government aim at presenting the Cyprus Government pleasant abroad and stressed that no measures can replace a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. In addition the party alleged that the Cyprus Republic announced the Measures because it was placed in the "corner" after the 24 April referenda results and because it is trying to hide its unwillingness for a solution. The CLP also stated that the issues that were brought forward with the Measures, could have been solved if the Annan Plan was accepted.

[05] Turkey to include the telephone code of the Cyprus Republic in its telecommunication system

/SK

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