Türk-İş: G. Cypriots use every opportunity to mislead on Cyprus issue

Türk-İş Chairman Ergün Atalay reacted to the words used by the Greek Cypriot workers’ delegation at the 110th session of the International Labour Conference, regarding the situation on the Island, about the “Turkish occupation”.

Atalay, using his right to respond at the International Labour Conference against the baseless claims and words of the Greek Cypriot trade unionist, emphasized that the division of the island began long before 1974, with the violation of agreements, the expulsion of the Turkish Cypriots from the joint state organs and even their removal from their homes.

Noting that the Greek Cypriots carried out an armed ethnic cleansing campaign against the Turkish Cypriots from 1963 to 1974, Atalay stated that the misleading statements of the Greek Cypriot representatives did not comply with the legal and historical facts regarding the island.

He also said that the root of the problem in Cyprus lies within the Greek Cypriot side’s unwillingness to share power and prosperity with the joint owners of the Island.

“The Greek Cypriot side is using every opportunity to mislead the international community about the Cyprus problem, taking advantage of the absence of the Turkish Cypriot side. We cannot hear the voices of Turkish Cypriot workers’ or employers’ organizations here today, as their right to representation in international platforms has been denied by Greek Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots, who make every effort to find a solution, continue to be subjected to inhumane and unjustified isolations” said Atalay and added that they call for these unfounded restrictions to come to an end.