Cyprus solution only on the basis of bi-zonality, bi-communality: Akinci
By Ansar Mahmood Bhatti in Nicosia
Nicosia, North Cyprus,) – President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his country would deal with terrorism with an iron hand adding terrorists cannot stop them from their struggle to nip this menace in the bud. The Turkish president was speaking to media upon his arrival in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to attend 41sr anniversary of peace and freedom operation. The Turkish president was referring to July 20 terrorists’ attacks in Turkey in which 28 people were killed.
The Turkish president further said terrorists were trying to hamper peace and progress in Turkey but determined all such designs would be foiled. He said, Turkey has been bearing the brunt of this menace for quite some time now however due to government steps terrorists acts had been effectively checked.
The Turkish president said, terrorists have no religion, no country and no place in society. He sought Turkish people support in order to curb this menace.
President Erdogan also spoke about the Cyprus issue and said Turkey would continue to extend its support to the people of North Cyprus. He said, at the same time Turkey as a guarantor power will continue its struggle for a just and peaceful solution to the issue.
The Turkish president further said let there should be no doubts about the Turkish support to the people of North Cyprus. You will always find us with you all the time.
He said the water problem of North Cyprus people shall also be solved very soon as most of the work on laying of water pipeline from Turkey to TRNC had been completed. He said only 1.5 kilometer pipeline was left which will be completed soon.
Once the pipeline project is completed the island will definitely become a paradise. The Turkish president also talked about education sector adding North Cyprus was doing good job in this sector. He said coming of more and more foreign students to the island for education was a proof that the education standards maintained by the North Cyprus universities are the best in the world.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that their primary aim was to reach a comprehensive solution which will guarantee political equality and legal rights of the Turkish Cypriot side. Erdoğan added: “Our desire is to reach a settlement as soon as possible. Turkish Cypriot side put forth their will for a solution and it is time for the Greek Cypriot side to show the same sincerity”.
Erdoğan attended the ceremony organized for the 41. Anniversary of Peace and Freedom Day. In his speech during the ceremony, Erdoğan congratulated the 20th July Peace and Freedom Day of the Turkish Cypriots, expressed Turkey’s regards and congratulated Ramadan Bairam as well.
Stating that there is a boom in the tourism sector in the TRNC and there is more than 70,000 students in the island; Erdoğan said that it was their aim to make the TRNC one of the most important tourism and education centers.
Mustafa Akinci, President North Cyprus
The President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Mustafa Akinci also spoke on the occasion. He assured the people of TRNC that nothing less than a bi-zonal and communal settlement shall be accepted.
He said his government would do its best to pursue negotiations with the Greek side in order to resolve this issue as per the wishes of the people of North Cyprus.
It may be mentioned here that Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world. North Cyprus celebrates on July 20 the peace and freedom operation when Turkish forces came to the island to prevent Greek Cyprus bid of reunion of the island with Greece. Turkey since then maintains a sizeable number of military troops on the island. It is because of presence of these troops on the island that Greek Cyprus government is still in talks with the North side.
The European Union in its unilateral decision decided to grant membership of the Union to Greek side despite the fact that the Greek side had rejected the UN Secretary General Kofi Anan plan for reunification of the island. The Turkish side( 63 per cent) had said Yes to the plan .
The President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Mustafa Akinci also spoke on the occasion. He assured the people of TRNC that nothing less than a bi-zonal and communal settlement shall be accepted.
He said his government would do its best to pursue negotiations with the Greek side in order to resolve this issue as per the wishes of the people of North Cyprus.
It may be mentioned here that Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world. North Cyprus celebrates on July 20 the peace and freedom operation when Turkish forces came to the island to prevent Greek Cyprus bid of reunion of the island with Greece. Turkey since then maintains a sizeable number of military troops on the island. It is because of presence of these troops on the island that Greek Cyprus government is still in talks with the North side.
The European Union in its unilateral decision decided to grant membership of the Union to Greek side despite the fact that the Greek side had rejected the UN Secretary General Kofi Anan plan for reunification of the island. The Turkish side( 63 per cent) had said Yes to the plan .
Akıncı : “Not only Turkey’s but also Greece’s support will be needed during this resolution process”.
In his speech during the ceremony at Dr. Fazıl Küçük Boulevard, President Akıncı said their aim was to reach a bi-communal, bi-zonal, politically equal and secure federal solution as stated in the 11 February 2014 joint statement. He also stated “I would like to point out that not only Turkey’s but also Greece’s support will be needed during this resolution process”.
Akıncı pointed to the importance of each side knowing each other with the support of Turkey and Greece; “after years of being apart, it is time for the sides to see each other as partners of the future, not as the enemies that hate each other” he said.
Akıncı also condemned the attack in Şanlıurfa and expressed condolences to all Turkish nation and the families of those who lost their lives in the attack.
“Enosis was prevented”
In his speech, President Akıncı pointed to the importance of the 20th July military intervention which prevented Greek coup and Enosis in the island. Along with the 20th July, Turkish Cypriots have started to live in north side and it prepared a substructure to a bi-communal, bi-zonal solution. Akıncı noted that Turkish Cypriots live in peace in their region now and this was provided by the 20th July.
The TRNC president further said that the youth of the island arise now fed up with the continuing situation and they now want tangible results. When he was asked that what will happen if the second referendum on the issue also fails, President Mustafa said it would be very unfortunate it is happens. In this case, our people will have no option but to go for an independent state.
While briefing the international media about the situation Mustafa Akinci further said it was a last chance for both sides to reach an agreement. He also mentioned 2004 referendum in which the Turkish Cypriots people had approved the Kofi Annan plan for the solution of the Cyprus issue but unfortunately the Greek side overwhelmingly rejected that plan. He said, the then Greek Cyprus president came on the national hook up and asked his people to reject the plan and consequently the Greek Cyprus people said a big No to the UN plan. Thus a chance to reach re-unification of the island was missed. He warned this time there won’t be a plan B.
He was cautiously hopeful when he was asked to comment on the chances of a settlement in the near future. However he said he was hopeful because the leadership on both sides now genuinely wanted to resolve this longstanding issue. He told media people that he himself hails from Limasol, which a popular tourist resort in the Greek side. While the Greek Cyprus sitting president Anastasiades was among those people who had said Yes in the 2004 UN sponsored referendum, which means he too has a desire to re-unify the island. The TRNC president hoped that the Greek Cyprus president now has a chance to give practical shape to his wishes regarding re-unification of the island.
Talking about the role of the European Union he said EU should now play a proactive role in helping both the communities to reach an agreement. While showing his dismay over EU decision to give membership to Greek Cyprus, the TRNC president added, the EU now had an opportunity to compensate the Turkish Cypriot people.
While sharing some contours of the ‘united Cyprus’ government he said, in Senate both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots will have equal number of seats while in the lower house seats shall be allocated on the basis of population. It will be a bi-zonal and bi-communal state. There shall be a federal policing system, which will work in tandem with the regional police systems. To a question about military, the TRNC president said they have not discussed this issue as yet however he said there is a possibility that we do not have a military force at all.
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It may be mentioned here that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey. TRNC, after 2004 UN sponsored referendum was given an observer’s status in the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) as Turkish Cypriot State. TRNC maintains representative offices in various countries including Pakistan, United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Oman, Iran, Azerbaijan, Egypt etc.
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