La Tribune de Bruxelles gazetesinin 5-11 2007 tarihli sayısında « Chypre, nouveau membre de la francopohonie » başlığı altında ve Baudouin Peeters imzasıyla bir makale yayımlanmıştır. Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti Brüksel Temsilcisi Sayın Yalçın VEHİT sözkonusu makaleye cevaben anılan gazeteye bir cevabi mektup göndermiştir. İngilizce olarak kaleme alınan mektup değerli basın mensuplarımızın bilgisi için ekte gönderilmektedir.
Saygılarımla
Yusuf SEKİ
Basın Müşaviri
The Editor-in-Chief,
La Tribune de Bruxelles.
The article of Baudouin Peeters published in your paper of 5-11 July 2007, to my deep regret is full of unfounded allegations and distorts the facts and figures of the Cyprus problem.
The only statement with which one can agree upon is the need to explore the recent history in order to evaluate the present situation on the island. The author for some reason has totally ignored three key dates of Cyprus issue, 1963, 1974 and 2004.
1963 - Only after three years of its foundation, the partnership republic which provided for effective representation of and power share between the politically two equal peoples of Cyprus, Turkish and Greek Cypriots was destroyed by the Greek Cypriots through force of arms with the objective of uniting the island with Greece.
During the period 1963-1974, thousands of Turkish Cypriots were killed, maimed, wounded or went missing by Greek Cypriots and some 30,000 or one forth of Turkish Cypriot population were rendered refugees. UN Peace Keeping Forces are on the island ever since.
1974 – As a guarantor power Turkey refrained from exercising its right to intervene, a right emanating from international agreements which founded the Republic of Cyprus, to restore the 'state of affairs' which had been changed by force by Greek Cypriots in 1964, until the military junta in Greece staged a coup d'etat through its military forces together with Greek Cypriot collaborators on 15 July 1974 to unite the island to Greece. It is important to note that in the absence of a comprehensive settlement the presence of Turkish forces in Northern Cyprus is a vital security requirement for the Turkish Cypriot people and is in compliance with international agreements.
2004 - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented a comprehensive peace plan for Cyprus that envisaged a federation with two constituent parts, presided over by a rotating presidency. This Plan was put on simultaneous referenda on 24 April 2004 in two parts of the island. The Plan, which was also fully endorsed by the European Union, was approved by the Turkish Cypriots and rejected by the Greek Cypriots.
The referendum have clearly demonstrated, once again, that the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are co-owners of the island and neither side has the right or authority to represent the other.
Mr. Annan's disappointment was also reflected in his Report to the Security Council, dated 2 June 2004, where he stated "the rejection of such a plan by the Greek Cypriot electorate is a major setback. What was rejected was the solution itself rather than a mere blueprint."
Although the European Union had repeatedly expressed its strong preference for the accession of a united Cyprus and its support to the UN Plan, Greek Cypriot Administration was accepted to the EU without Turkish Cypriots.
The acceptance of Greek Cypriots as full member to the EU did not contribute to efforts finding a comprehensive solution, but on the contrary complicated the matters. Turkish Cypriots are suffering under economic, social, cultural and sportive isolations. Despite the EU Council conclusions of 26 April 2004, Greek Cypriots at the disguise of legitimate government of Cyprus are obstructing the adoption of regulations to lift the isolations and they are abusing their position to derail the accession negotiations of the Republic of Turkey by establishing a linkage between the Turkish accession process and Cyprus issue.
Regarding the education facilities offered to Greek Cypriots in the North the author is giving totally false information to the readers. On the contrary to assertions in the article it is the Turkish Cypriot children who are deprived of education in their own language. I code from the Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (A/HRC/4/59) dated 9 March 2006; (Article 17) "In relation to the right to education, four additional teachers were assigned for the Greek Cypriot secondary school in Rizokarpaso in the North…"; (Article 19) "Regarding the education of Turkish Cypriot children in the south UNFICYP continued its discussions with the Greek Cypriot authorities, initiated in March 2005, regarding the establishment of a Turkish-language primary school in Limassol, which is not yet operational."
Moreover, the same Report (Article 18) provides undisputable information about the "Turkish Cypriot students (who) continued to be confronted with lack of access to the Erasmus, Socrates and Bologna processes or other European scholarship programmes. The issue has been linked to the non-recognition of Turkish Cypriot universities. The right to education is a fundamental human right, and the current situation prevents the free movement of students and staff and constrains academic freedom, the exchange of ideas and international competition."
As to the allegations raised concerning the demographic structure, I would like to bring to your attention the recent census taken in April 2006 according to which the de facto population Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is 265,100 of which 78,613 are university students and workers mainly from Turkey.
On the other the rejection of the UN Peace Plan by the Greek Cypriots obstructed the solutions for property issues affecting both peoples. Turkish Cypriot Immovable Property Compensation Commission was established to deal with affected Greek Cypriots upon their application.
Last but not least. I would like to state that the problem of maintenance of religious buildings in Cyprus is not an issue that is only affecting the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriot religious sites in South Cyprus are also in urgent need for cleaning and restoration. It should be remembered that there are many Turkish-Muslim cultural monuments including mosques, baths, fountains and cemeteries in the Greek Cypriot side that are in very bad condition due to rough handling, negligence and wilful destruction.
No doubt much more could be done with international financial support. It is a sad irony that the Turkish Cypriot people are heavily critisized for not taking sufficient care of the cultural heritage in the North, when international organizations or private bodies entrusted for the financial assistance in this field have been prevented by the Greek Cypriot administration from taking an interest in or providing assistance to the North.
I would appreciate if this letter is published in your esteemed paper.
Sincerely yours
Yalcin Vehit
Turkish Cypriot Representative
11 July 2007