Allegations have been spreading through propaganda from Turkey and their allies, regarding the so-called “isolation” of Turkish Cypriots by the Government of Cyprus. For thirty years, 1974 till 2004, there was no mention of “isolation” of the Turkish Cypriots, which then was a reality. After the referendum, Turkey started propagating rumors about isolation. Do the facts support this allegation?
Turkey invaded Cyprus on the 20th of July 1974, after a coup by Greek Junta on the 15th of July 1974. The Turkish invasion started on the 20th of July, as a “peace making operation” and is still on going reached through the continued occupation of the northern part of Cyprus. More than 6.000 Greek Cypriots were killed (1% of the population) or are missing and 200.000 (30%) became refugees. All Moslems living in the free areas of Cyprus were obliged by Turkey to leave their homes and move to the occupied areas.
Since then, 37% of the land is under Turkish occupation. In 1983 Turkey established the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”. The international community condemned this separatist move, while he Security Council of he UN declared it “legally invalid” and demanded the revocation of this one-sided proclamation of independence. Moreover, it has called upon all nations to refrain from providing any assistance or cooperation to this separatist entity. It has also asked all nations not to recognize any state other than the Republic of Cyprus in the country. Consequently, the “isolation” was imposed by the UN Resolutions of the Security Council and not by the Republic of Cyprus. We wonder why this decision escapes the attention Not the EU?
Soon after the invasion, large numbers of Turks from Anatolia started to flow into the occupied areas and to set up in the houses of Greek refugees. The newcomers created severe problems with the T/C who were unable to live among the illiterate, semi-wild settlers. As a result they started leaving their homes to immigrate to other countries. So the number of t/c began diminishing.
The main reasons were: no work, no employment, small income as the settlers were working with a very low salary, enclave in the small area without a valid passport to travel. The 40.000 Turkish soldiers were governing and suppressing them, resulting to an unlivable life for them. Under this situation 57.000 Turkish Cypriots out of 116.000 immigrated and remains abroad. In their place more than 162.000 Turks were settled in the occupied areas changing radically the demography. Turkish Cypriots were in a real isolation. But no one ever protested for that, not even Turkey, or USA, or Britain.
This situation started changing with the opening of several crossing points in 2002 and the t/c became less isolated, especially after the Referendum. To day the situation is as follows:
Over 40.000 t/c are holders of Cyprus Republic passports
Over 79.000 are holders of birth certificates of the Republic
Over 67.000 are holders of the republic ID cards.
Note: the number of t/c living now in the occupied areas is around 80.000 while the number of Turkish settlers has increased now to 160.000. Does this mean anything regarding the referendum in the occupied areas, where the two thirds are Turkish settlers?
Expenses of Republic of Cyprus for the t/c
2003-2004, Euro 32.3 m, 2005 48m
Free medical care at hospitals since April 2003 24,420 at cost Euro 6.9m
Trade.
Exports 2001 2004 2005
Total $34m 61m
Countries
Turkey 12.5m 28m
EU 12m 15m
Islamic 2,5m 4m
Other EUR. 5m 12m
Tourism $179m 614m 271,1
Persons 470.000 557.000 0ver 600.000 (the 280.000 from the Gov. controlled area, with an income of 29.23m Euro)
Expenses of Republic of Cyprus for the t/c
2003-2004 Euro 32.3 m. and 2005 48m
The per capita income of t/c was in 2003 (in Euro) 3.693, at 2003 4.963, at 2004 6.780 and at 2005 7.960
The GDP was for the year 2002 6.2%, 2003 10.6% and 2004 14.2%
Above that, 8-10.000 Turkish Cypriots are employed in the free areas of Cyprus, enjoying a higher income that the one it could get in the Occupied Areas. Turkey did not allow the t/c/ to accept the 249M. Euro provided by E.U.
Conclusions.
After the opening of the crossing points the t/c are enjoying free medical care, social insurance, pension and other benefits, according to the laws of the Republic of Cyprus. In addition, employment to the one third of the financially active T/C, supply with EU passports to travel anywhere in the EU, while before that they could travel only to Turkey. A lot of Greek Cypriots are customers of the t/c market and they can freely visit the whole Cyprus with out any problem.
Direct trade with the EU, means acknowledgement of a separate state subdued to Turkey, which is ruling absolutely the occupied areas with their 40.000 troops staying in Cyprus. Is it your intention to partition Cyprus into two states because Turkey illegally holds a part of Cyprus after an invasion and occupation of a part of a EU country?
Having above in mint (you can check their accuracy), is that a situation isolation of t/c? Why for thirty years during which they were really isolated, without work and income and they were obliged to emigrate, no body ever protested against the situation? While now, that t/c are free within the Republic of Cyprus, EU countries accepted the Anglo-American inventions about isolation, without examining the real salutation and blame the government of the Republic of Cyprus, a member of EU, who’s sovereignty is violated? It is certainly the wrong policy of the t/c leaders, who adopted the permanent interests of Turkey against the interests of their community and of Cyprus.
Finally you should know that the Cyprus problem is one of invasion by Turkey and occupation of the 37% of Cyprus, killing more than 6.000 people and still remains. The direct trade of t/c and the EU is another expression of the acknowledgment of the occupied areas as a separate Turkish state.
So, the basic issues regarding the solution of Cyprus problem are: a constitutional government based on majority rule, the rule of law and protection of minority’s rights, the immediate removal of turkey’s occupation troops and settlers, unifying Cyprus for all its legal citizens, who will enjoy all rights any other citizen in E.U. enjoys.
For the
Movement for the European Future of Cyprus.
Vias Livadas
Deputy Chairman.