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Qazi Mansoor Hassan 
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TALKING POINTS OF THE CYPRUS ISSUE
By: By: HASAN RAZA (EasternMediterranean university-Cyprus)
Updated on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 5:09:53 PM
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Section 1: Brief background 1:The pre-1960 period Cyprus, as a British colony reached the agenda of the UN in 1954 when the Greek Cypriots , helped by Greece, tried to unite Cyprus with Greece(ENOSIS) under the claim of “the right of self-determination for the people of Cyprus.” The UN did not fall in to this trap in view of the reality that there are two peoples in Cyprus With different language,religion and political policy as the Greek Cypriot side claiming Cyprus To be Greek whiles the Turkish Cypriot side claiming to be Turkish on geo-political and historical grounds. The Parliament and the Government of the UK confirmed twice, in 1956 and 1958 that the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are entitled separately to the right of self-determination. Helped by Greece, the Greek Cypriots resorted to terrorism in 1955 declaring everyone who Opposed Enosis to be traitor. Terrorism continued to last until 1958 bringing Turkey and Greece several times to the brink of war. Greece wanted to annex Cyprus but not at the expense of war with Turkey. 2:1959/1960 Agreements Turkish Cypriots did not bow to the terrorism and indicated that they would never agree to neo-colonialism by Greece. Turkey ,for geo-political reasons would not consent to Cyprus becoming a Greek colony. However, to avoid a Greco-Turkish war, and to prevent further harassments and murder of Turkish Cypriots , it was agreed to settle the Cyprus problem on the basis of the realities on ground. Union with Greece and its counter demand “ double Enosis” or partition were outlawed and a partnership was established between the two sides on the political equality. This internal balance was supported with an external Greco-Turkish balance; Cyprus would not be entitled to enter any union in which both Motherlands( Turkey and Greece) were not jointly members. This balanced agreement was guaranteed, permanently by Turkey Greece and Great Britain which retained sovereign bases in the island. 3:The unwanted Republic Arch Bishop Malarias, who had masterminded the terror reign between 1955-58, ha been elected by the Greek Cypriots as the President of Cyprus and Dr.Kucuk by the Turkish Cypriots as the Vice president. The president and the Vice President had the equal powers and the right of veto on certain important matters. The bi-communal partnership Republic had, however , no chance of survival because Malarias and Greece had decided to use the Republic as a stepping stone for the prohibited Enosis aim. According to Malarias the Turkish Cypriot obstacle to enosis had to be eliminated at all costs. 4: Double Christmas In order to realize union with Greece,Makarios sanctioned the establishment of secret armies by Greek Cypriot party leaders while Greece poured arms and personnel in to the island. All Turkish Cypriot rights embodied in the 1960 agreements were subjected to daily attacks. On 21st December 1963 Makarios started the organised attacks on Turkish Cypriots.He expected the Turkish Cypriots to collaps and accept to be a minority in Greek Cyprus. He did not expect the Turkish Cypriots to resist his forces more than few days-so by Christmas, Greek Cypriots could celebrate double Christmas. As a result of these ,one fourth of the Turkish Cypriot population was driven out of 103 villages and were forced in to enclaves composing 3% of the area of Cyprus with all the mosques and other holy places of the Muslims being destroyed and desecrated in these villages. The offices of the Vice-President and the three of the Turkish ministries were forcefully broken in and ransacked.Makarios declared the constitution to be “dead and buried” and the office of the Vice-President non-existent. Turkish Cypriot members of the joint Parliament were denied access to their seats unless they bowed to the changes unilaterally made by Greek Cypriots to the Cyprus constitution. Turkish Cypriots chose to resist this illegal, criminal action which amounted to the imposition of the Greek Cypriot political will on Cyprus. The partnership Republic was thus destroyed and Greek Cypriot hijackers of the title of the Government of Cyprus set on a course to uniting the island with Greece. 5:Turkish Cypriot Administration The Turkish Cypriots were left stateless and expelled from all the organs of the state,with 30000 refugees to be looked after and deprived of all its income earning capacity. The Turkish Cypriot leadership organized itself as the Turkish Cypriot Administration under the Vice-President of Cyprus. 6:The Coup and the Turkish intervention On 15 July 1974 a Greek inspired military coup attempted to unite the island with Greece. Guarantor Turkey proposed the other guarantor Great Britain to act together to stop this illegality but Britain declined. Therefore Turkey had to act on its own to fulfill its obligations under the 1960 Treaty to prevent as the guarantor the union of the island with Greece and to provide protection to the Turkish Cypriot people. Because the Greek Cypriot side is still unlawfully using the title of the 1960 partnership Republic and claiming to be sole representative of the whole island and because the two have not yet reached an agreement to bring resolution , peace and stability to Cyprus, Turkey still maintains troops on the island. Section 2: The Pretense of Talks Until 1968, Makarios refused to enter in to dialogue with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart. The genocidal attack on Kophinou (Gecitkale)and Ayios Theodoros (Bogazici) in late 1967 nearly brought Turkey in to Cyprus. This threat led to a new cease-fire agreement and Makarios consented to take part in inter-communal talks. His representative at the talks was Mr.Glafcos Clerides,and the Vice-President’s representative wasMr. Rauf Dektas, thepresident of the Turkish Communal chamber. The Cyprus issue has been on the agenda of the UN Security Council for 40 years and since 1968 the two sides have been negotiating, on and off, in order to reach a settlement. The Turkish Cypriot side has been in favor of direct talks between the two states of Cyprus, namely the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus(TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot administration of South Cyprus, with a view to facilitating the establishment of a new partnership state based on the sovereign equality of the two ex- partner. As a result of the initiative of the President of the TRNC, H.E.Mr. Rouf Denktas direct talks began in January 2002, and continued for over a year until the meeting at the Hague on 10-11 March 2003. This process ,like all the previous ones, failed to secure a negotiated settlement based on the realities and historical experiences of the island of Cyprus because the Greek Cypriot side rejected sovereign equality and wanted favorable terms for themselves. This attitude of the Greek Cypriot side prevailed throughout the process of direct talks. The talks ultimately failed because the Greek Cypriot administration , heartened by its European Union membership prospects, was not willing to concede to any power sharing arrangement based on sovereign equality and bi-zonality. Following the failure at the Hague, the European Union continued its one-sided approach to the issue by signing the Treaty of Association with the Greek Cypriot Administration purporting to represent the “Republic of Cyprus” at the EU summit held in Athens on 16 April 2003. Needless to say ,it is not possible for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to accept this Treaty which violates the rule of international law and disregards the existence of two equal, sovereign peoples with their respective states on the island. Section 3 :Recent Confidence Building Initiatives By The Turkish Cypriot side Despite the negative attitude of the Greek Cypriot administration , the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared that it was ready to continue to work towards a settlement on the basis of the sovereign equality of the two sides, bi-zonality and the continuation of the existing guarantee system. Towards this end , the Turkish Cypriot side , on 2 April 2003, put forward a constructive package to overcome the deep crisis of confidence between the two peoples. These proposals include the lifting of all restrictions on overseas trade, transport, cultural activities by both parties ; freedom of movement between the two sides and the lifting of restriction on the movement of the tourists; the transfer of the fenced area of the town of Varosha to Greek Cypriot control for the settlement of of approximately 30000 Greek Cypriots in that area; and the establishment of bi-lateral Reconciliation Committee with the objective of promoting understanding, tolerance and mutual respect between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. Unfortunately the Greek Cypriot side , without even considering the package , rejected it the same day. Notwithstanding the Greek Cypriot attitude, the Turkish Cypriot side first took a decision on 16 April 2003 to allow the trade between the two sides , and then, adopted a fresh and constructive policy and decided to permit , on 21 April 2003, border crossings between the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot administration . This was an historic decision to which both the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people reacted very positively. The Greek Cypriot administration opposed the initiatives from the start. They have voiced their opposition publicly to deter Greek Cypriots who want to cross. In addition to discouraging and trying to curtail visits to the North , the Greek Cypriot police continue to confiscate goods purchased in the North by visiting Greek Cypriots. The constructive initiatives of the Turkish Cypriot side has been followed by new openings the TRNC government on 9 may 2003, further confidence building measures were offered including scholarships to Greek Cypriot students in Turkish Cypriot universities ;the improvement and expansion of telecommunication links between the two sides; and measures to further normalize trade between the two sides. Further more , on 11 July 2003, President Denktas proposed yet another confidence building measures package which involved the opening of Nicosia international airport to serve both the sides as well as opening up of the fenced area of Varosha for resettlement under UN administration . The Greek Cypriot side has also rejected this constructive proposal. With the intention of reinforcing the positive climate that has been created as a result of the series of initiatives undertaken by the Turkish Cypriot side and providing a more secure environment for crossings between the two sides , President Denktas informed the UN Secretary General on 24 July 2003 that the military authorities of the TRNC were prepared to discuss with UNFICYP the issue of de-mining in Nicosia and its close vicinity. One of the most fundamental issues in the Cyprus question is the property issue. The Turkish Cypriot side has long been proposing that a joint property claims commission be set up to look in to the property claims and to develop modalities to settle the property issue on the basis of the agreed principle of bi-zonality. The Greek Cypriot side has been refusing this proposal while affected property owners are deprived of effective remedies. In the absence of the cooperation from the Greek Cypriot side , the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in accordance with Article 159 of the TRNC constitution , has adopted a legislation for compensation for immovable properties located within the boundaries of the TRNC, and the Immovable Property Determination , Evaluation and Compensation Commission was established on 8 August 2003.The establishment of the commission, which will deal with issues of compensation and/or exchange of our properties of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, is aimed at providing internal legal remedies in connection with properties in each other’s territory. Under the provisions of this legislation, a number of Greek Cypriots have already applied to the commission for compensation of their properties in the TRNC. The reaction of the Greek Cypriot administration has been , once again , negative. Greek Cypriot officials have taken their turns in denouncing those Greek Cypriots who have chosen to make use of this legal remedy in the TRNC. This constitute a blatant attempt to curtail individual rights of Greek Cypriots and to undermine an effective legal instrument which confirms fully with relevant international norms. The Turkish Cypriot side’s good will efforts have been constantly met by rejection and defiance on the part of the Greek Cypriot side. It is abundantly clear that the Greek Cypriot side is not interested in a new partnership in Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot administration , which has practiced ethnic cleansing and all forms of violence , oppression and discrimination against Turkish Cypriots between 1963-1974, has since continued to try to bring about the economic and the social collapse of our people through inhuman embargoes which extends to all spheres of life, including commercial , sportive and cultural activities as well as travel and communication. Continued recognition of a purely Greek Cypriot regime as if it were the “Government of Cyprus” only encourages Greek Cypriot intransigence. In order to break this vicious cycle , we expect the international community to assist in every possible manner in the lifting of the senseless restriction over North Cyprus, and creating a new environment which would foster an early settlement.