AVRUPA AVA- AVRUPA GAZETTE-Following the meeting between President Ersin Tatar and the Vice President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Fuat Oktay on his visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on 10 February 2021, during a joint press conference they confirmed their commitment and support for a Two-State solution to the Cyprus problem. This was also reiterated by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu during his recent visit to the TRNC.
Two-State Solution Platform for Cyprus : "Our principles are simplistic and clear."
The Turkish Cypriot people have the right to:
• Self-determination; • Speak their own language;
• To practice their own faith and culture;
• Equal access to: education, international participation, freedom of movement, economic prosperity
and the freedom to choose how they are governed;
• To live without fear of persecution or attack; and
• Choose their own Guarantor Power for their own safety and security.
Two-State Solution Platform: "For Cyprus the undersigned representatives of Turkish Cypriot non-government and civil society organizations offer our full support to this commitment and welcome the prospect of a Two-State solution. Our reasons are listed below:
1. In 1964, the Greek Cypriot leadership usurped the title of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) and the legitimate rights of the Turkish Cypriot people. The failed attempt of a federation has resulted in the legitimate end of the RoC. From 1963 to 1983, the Turkish Cypriots were forced to administer themselves resulting in the proclamation of the TRNC in 1983. Since then, the TRNC has been self- governing in their separate part of the island for the last 38 years.
2. The unique equal partnership state established in 1960 was a functional federation, as such, it proved unworkable and could not have been successfully implemented. Negotiations have continued under the auspices of the UN since 1968 but have failed to find a just and lasting solution acceptable to both Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples. The latest settlement plan (the Annan Plan of 2004) was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side in separately held simultaneous referenda. However, it was yet another plan rejected by the Greek Cypriot side because they do not wish to share power with their counterpart, the Turkish Cypriots who were their equal co-founding partners in the 1960 RoC. A former Foreign Minister of the Greek Cypriot Administration of South Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Rolandis has admitted many times, that the Greek Cypriots have rejected 15 out of 17 plans put before them so far. It is time for a radical and fresh approach to the issue.
3. The last 53 years of negotiations have failed to deliver an agreement based on a federal power sharing formula acceptable to both peoples. It is unacceptable that Turkish Cypriots should bear the price for these failed talks. The Turkish Cypriot people are being held to political ransom and being denied theright to self-determination and their existence denied by the UN and EU. We remind the EU and the Western world to honour their promises and request an immediate end to the unjust isolation and restrictions imposed on the TRNC and Turkish Cypriot people.
4. The two peoples on the island have not shared power for the last 58 years, each self-governing independently. As the negotiations in the last 53 years have shown, Greek Cypriots are not willing to share power or the island’s oil & gas resources. Turkish Cypriot’s constitutional rights were usurped and removed from all government institutions by force of arms. This was proceeded by UN Resolution 186 which paved the way to the Greek Cypriots being recognised as the sole authority of the island unjustly eliminating the co-founding partners- the Turkish Cypriots from joint governance.
5. To continue negotiating on the basis of a federal model, would lead all parties back down the fruitless path that has been pursued aimlessly for over 50 years. It will also continue to allow the Greek Cypriots the unjust benefit of representing the whole of Cyprus without Turkish Cypriot representation. Turkish Cypriots have continued to be left in political and economic isolation which is an unparalleled position for any European community. This cannot be allowed to persist.
6. The Turkish Cypriot people have lived through violence, displacement, discrimination, international isolation and treated as second class citizens in a failed power-sharing system. The Turkish Cypriots cannot live under the rule of a people who lead an attempted genocide against them. They cannot risk re-living the same experience, especially with a Greek ‘zero troops’ and ‘zero guarantees’ mandate. History has shown us that Turkey’s Guarantorship cannot be compromised. Turkey’s intervention in 1974 (under rights granted under the Treaty of Guarantee) prevented the genocide of Turkish Cypriots on the island. Our security concerns can only be addressed through a Two-State solution where absolute assurances and protection of life can be guaranteed.
7. Both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides will significantly benefit from a mutually acceptable solution on the above basis. Such a solution will open the way for security, stability and co-operation on the island and in the region, while opening the huge Turkish market for the successful services sector of the Greek Cypriot side (particularly tourism and shipping) and facilitating the optimum monetisation of the hydrocarbon resources of the region (Turkey is the largest market in the region for natural gas and provides for the most cost effective way of transporting this gas to Europe). Other bonuses will be better Turkish-Greek relations, Turkey-EU relations and enhanced NATO solidarity, hence a WIN WIN SOLUTION.
8. In October 2020 the Turkish Cypriot population of Cyprus voted for a democratically elected leader, President Ersin Tatar, who won his seat on a clear Two-State mandate. The message from the Turkish Cypriot people is clear; it is time for an alternative solution to be brought to the negotiation table which is a Two-State solution.
The undersigned believe that the time has passed for endless negotiations and we stress the need for political, economic and social parity and a level playing field for peace and stability to be achieved in Cyprus.
Two-State Solution Platform for Cyprus: The Turkish Cypriot people want an end to their international isolation; to be able to travel and trade freely, to have a right to life, and to invoke the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, Article 2, which says that: “.. .no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty”.
All Turkish Cypriots, home and abroad, must now be given the freedom and power to decide for themselves what their future status will be. It's time for us to make historic progress and reach a peaceful resolution. It's time for a Two-State solution.
Two-State Solution Platform for Cyprus
Addendum A
The following non-government and civil society organizations globally have given confirmed support for the latest statement:
Australia
Albion Rovers SC
Australian North Cyprus Friendship Association Kıbrıs Türk İslam Derneği
Kıbrs Türk Radyosu
Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cemiyeti
St Albans Türk Yaşlı ve Emekliler
Sunshine Turkish Senior Citizens
Turkish Cypriot United Platform (TCUP-Australia) Yeşilada Kadınlar Birliği
Turkey
Kıbrıs Türk Kültür Derneği – Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya & Mersin Turkish Cypriot United Platform (TCUP-Turkey)
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Association of Turkish Cypriots Abroad (ATCA) British Residents Society (BRS)
Dunya Kibris Turkleri Vakfi
Independence Platform - 33 members confirmed: 1. KKTC. İNSAN HAKLARI DERNEĞİ
2. KKTC. KAMU PERSONELİ SENDİKASI
3. K.T. KADINLARI VE ANNELERİ TÜKETİCİ HAKLARI DERNEĞİ 4. KKTC. TÜKETİCİLER DERNEĞİ
5. K.T. ZARAR GÖRMÜŞ GÜNEYLİ GÖÇMENLER DERNEĞİ
6. K.T.TÜKETİCİLER BİRLİĞİ
7. BAF TÜRK BİRLİĞİ.
8. ULUSAL ESNAF HAREKETİ
9. BEŞPARMAK DAĞI BAYRAĞI IŞIK LANDIRMA DERNEĞİ
10. ASMAALTIVEARASTAESNAFDERNEĞİ.
11. K.T.GENÇLERİTÜKETİCİLERHAREKETİ
12. KKTC.’NİYAŞATMAHAREKETİ
13. VATAN VE EGEMENLİK İÇİN TÜRK KADIN PLATFORMU 14. TÜKETİCİKALİTEVESTADNARTLARÖRGÜTÜ
15. ÇALIŞANKADINLARDERNEĞİ
16. K.T.ANNELERBİRLİKTELİĞİ
17. HAK,HUKUKVEADALETİÇİNMÜCADELEÖRGÜTÜ
18. ÖZGÜRİNSANHAKLARIÖRGÜTÜ
23 April 2021
Two-State Solution Platform for Cyprus
19. GENÇMÜTEŞEBBİSLERİKORUMAÖRGÜTÜ. 20. ÇAĞDAŞGAZETECİLERVEYAZARLARÖRGÜTÜ 21. K.T.GENÇMÜCAHİTLERDERNEĞİ.
22. K.T.KADINEMEKLİLERİBİRLİKTELİĞİ.
23. BAĞIMSIZLIKİÇİNMÜCADELEÖRGÜTÜ
24. SENDİKALHAKLARPLATFORMU
25. KADINHAKLARIÖRGÜTÜ
26. ONURLUÇÖZÜMBİRLİĞİ
27. ÖZGÜRSANATÇILARÖRGÜTÜ
28. ÇAĞDAŞKADINLARÖRGÜTÜ
29. ÖZGÜRLÜKDAYANIŞMABİRLİĞİ
30. K.TÜRKGENÇLERİDAYANIŞMAPLATFORUMU 31. AKADEMİSYENLERPLATFORUMU
32. BİLİŞİMVEİLETİŞİMCİLERÖRGÜTÜ.
33. K.TÜRKÜHUKUKMÜCADELESİÖRGÜTÜ
Kıbrıs Türk Milli Varoluş Konseyi
Turkish Cypriot United Platform (TCUP-TRNC)
United Kingdom (UK)
Ataturk Society UK / Ingiltere Ataturkcu Dusunce Dernegi
CTCA UK - 10 members confirmed:
1. British Turkish Cypriot Association
2. Cezire Association
3. Ingiltere Turk Kadinları Yardim Dernegi/TWPA 4. Kıbrıs Türk Kültür Derneği
5. Lefkaralilar Derneği
6. Rauf R Denktas Turk Okulu
7. Türk 1 Birliği
8. Vatan Kültürel Korosu
9. Sydenham Elders Club
10. Turkish Cypriot United Platform (TCUP-UK)
Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce UK (CTCC UK)
Federation of Turkish Associations UK / Ingiltere Turk Dernekleri Federasyonu North Cypriots Exists
West London Turkish Volunteers / Batı Londra Türk Gönüllüleri
Young Turkish Cypriots (YTC)
United States of America (USA)
Turkish American National Steering Committee