Denktaş: The Only Occupied Entity In Cyprus Is The Government Of The Republic Of Cyprus

Speaking on Sözcü TV about the defence agreement between France and the Greek Cypriot Administration, Denktaş said the south of Cyprus is being turned into an arsenal. He argued that this development is linked to the Greek Cypriot side’s desire to join NATO and to dismantle existing guarantee and alliance frameworks.

Denktaş stated: “Let alone Turkish Cypriots calling for Turkey’s intervention, in 1974 Makarios called on Turkey as a guarantor state in his speech to the UN Security Council. This is being deliberately forgotten. They speak of ‘occupation’. The only thing under occupation in Cyprus is the government of the Republic of Cyprus. Nothing else. It is our two rightful seats in the European Parliament. We are being pushed towards conflict through propaganda that seeks to eliminate all of this. I hope this does not happen. As a people who have experienced war, we would never want this.”

He added that as the country with the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, it is natural for Turkey to protect its rights in the region. He said Turkey is not a country that can be challenged and therefore relations with Ankara must be maintained.

Denktaş said: “Instead of militarisation, we should seek ways to live side by side in peace. They have no capacity to confront Turkey. No foreign country will send its children to die for the Greeks or Greek Cypriots. Turkey is not a country they can confront. Therefore, they should seek peace with Turkey. They should establish good relations with Turkey. They should also establish good relations with Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus. This would bring peace, stability and calm to the region. If they choose war, they will receive the same blow they received before.”

He concluded by stating that, as a people who have experienced war, they do not want such outcomes and that a new diplomatic initiative is needed.