Üstel: Turkish Cypriots Cannot Be Forced to Give Up Their Rights

“Speaking of peace while arming yourself is a major contradiction,” Üstel said.

In a statement, Üstel criticized remarks made by Christodoulides and Dendias during October 1 ceremonies, saying that the Greek Cypriot and Greek approach to the Cyprus issue had once again been made clear.

Üstel said Christodoulides’ portrayal of the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus as the outcome of EOKA’s 1955-1959 struggle, while ignoring the Turkish Cypriot community, was incompatible with historical facts.

“The 1960 Republic of Cyprus was not established solely as a Greek Cypriot state. The Turkish Cypriot people are a founding partner of this Republic. The Republic was established on the basis of a political partnership between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples, under the guarantees of Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom,” Üstel said.

He said those who had forced the Turkish Cypriot people out of the 1960 partnership state by force of arms could not now claim sole ownership of its establishment and attempt to lecture Turkish Cypriots on history.

Üstel also criticized Christodoulides for portraying EOKA as a “national liberation struggle” while allegedly ignoring what Turkish Cypriots experienced between 1963 and 1974.

“The world also knows how Cyprus reached 1974,” Üstel said.

He said the July 15, 1974 coup carried out by the Greek junta and EOKA-B had sought to pave the way for the island’s union with Greece, or Enosis. He said Turkey’s intervention on July 20, 1974, took place within the framework created by the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee and at a time when the security of the Turkish Cypriot people had been jeopardized.

“We reject the use of terms such as ‘occupier’ and ‘invader’ against Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces while these historical facts are ignored,” Üstel said.

“SPEAKING OF PEACE WHILE ARMING YOURSELF IS A MAJOR CONTRADICTION”

Üstel said the Greek Cypriot leadership’s continued references to “peace,” “a solution” and “reunification,” while simultaneously expanding its arms programs and declaring the strengthening of its deterrence capabilities a priority state policy, should be carefully assessed.

He said the presence of Greek fighter jets, Greek military units and military personnel from other countries at the military parade, along with the Greek Cypriot side’s stated efforts to strengthen its air and naval infrastructure and invest in new weapons systems, would not be ignored by Turkish Cypriots.

“Presenting all this alongside rhetoric targeting Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people with accusations of ‘occupation’ does not contribute to creating the climate of confidence needed on the island,” Üstel said.

“WE ARE ALSO TAKING NOTE OF DENDIAS’ MESSAGES”

Üstel said they were also taking note of Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias’ statement that Greece would stand alongside the Greek Cypriot side, referring to new capabilities being developed by the Greek Armed Forces and highlighting Greece’s military presence.

“THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE ARE NOT A PEOPLE THAT CAN BE INTIMIDATED BY THREATS”

Üstel said no one should question why the effective and actual guarantee of the Republic of Turkey and the presence of Turkish troops on the island remained indispensable to the Turkish Cypriot people.

“Yesterday’s statements have once again demonstrated the importance of these guarantees,” he said.

Üstel said the TRNC and Turkey had no territorial ambitions toward any country.

“Our demand is not conflict, but cooperation. Not tension, but stability. However, seeking peace does not mean giving up our sovereignty or security,” he said.

“THERE ARE TWO PEOPLES, TWO DEMOCRACIES AND TWO STATES IN CYPRUS”

Üstel said the Turkish Cypriot side would not allow the “reunification” objective referred to by Christodoulides to turn into an approach aimed at incorporating Turkish Cypriots into a unitary structure governed by the Greek Cypriot majority.

“There are two separate peoples, two separate democratic systems and two separate states in Cyprus today,” he said.

Üstel argued that an agreement could not be reached through methods that had failed to produce results for more than half a century unless the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people were recognized.

“Our vision is clear. We want a future in which the sovereign equality and equal international status of the TRNC are recognized and the two states live side by side in security and cooperate with one another,” he said.

“THERE IS NO TURNING BACK FROM THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE’S STATE”

Üstel called on the Greek Cypriot leadership to recognize the sovereign rights of the Turkish Cypriot people instead of attempting to conceal arms buildup behind rhetoric about peace.

“Instead of portraying Turkey as a threat, see the opportunities that regional cooperation involving Turkey can provide,” he said.

He also called for an end to approaches that ignore the Turkish Cypriot people and seek to return Cyprus to the conditions of the 1960s.

“The future of the Turkish Cypriot people is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” Üstel said.

“We will not give up our state, our sovereignty, our security or the effective and actual guarantee of our motherland Turkey.

“The Turkish Cypriot people cannot be forced to give up their rights through threats, arms or statements that distort historical facts.

“The path to lasting stability on the island lies not in insisting on failed models of the past, but in recognizing the realities that exist today.

“The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus exists and will continue to exist and move confidently toward the future together with our motherland Turkey.”