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American presidential envoy for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke ended his
three days of intensive talks at the beginning of this month with the sides
in Cyprus without achieving a breakthrough.
Holbrooke left Cyprus after having four meetings with President
Rauf Denktas and five with Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides admitting
failure of his mission.
In a statement he made before his departure he claimed that failure
to make any progress was due to the Turkish Cypriot side's insistence on
the TRNC's recognition and the withdrawal of the Greek Cypriot side's application
for European Union membership as preconditions for the resumption of talks
between the two sides.
While putting the blame on the Turkish Cypriot side, Holbrooke
also put pressure on the Greek Cypriot side by telling the reporters at
his press conference that "it is clear Glafkos
Clerides does not represent or have control over the Turkish Cypriots.
This is a well-known fact. He doesn't deny this himself."
Commenting on the EU membership Holbrooke said:
"The EU was correct in inviting Cyprus to begin the talks to join the EU
and as I said repeatedly that was an invitation to all of Cyprus."
However, "the EU's failure to put Turkey on the
same basis as the other 11 countries that began the accession process was
a mistake and it was that imbalance which I believe has led to the present
impasse." Holbrooke said.
Holbrooke stressed that "if progress is to be made, both sides
must be willing to engage in give and take in serious negotiations. This
is not the current situation."
Holbrooke also admitted that he failed to convince the Greek Cypriot
side that the deployment of the controversial Russian missiles is not helping
the situation.
Holbrooke and Miller after one of their meetings
with the President Denktash
Although, the statement of Holbrooke gave the impression that he was
accusing the Turkish Cypriot side for the failure of his mission, in reality
he was accusing all sides including the EU.
His statement about the fake president Glafkos Clerides of 'Cyprus',
not being the president of the Turkish Cypriot side, has put the Greek
Cypriots under great pressure and had a shocking effect on the Greek Cypriot
side, which led to harsh criticism of Holbrooke by politicians and media
alike.
According to Holbrooke, EU is also guilty for this "impasse".
The EU decision to accept the unilateral application for membership of
the South Cyprus, ignoring the Turkish Cypriot side's rights and refusing
to accommodate Turkiye created this impasse. In fact the EU bares most
of the responsibility for the current situation because of their biased
unjust support for Greece and South Cyprus. This support is spoiling them
so much that they refuse to take seriously the warnings of Turkiye, other
countries and US about deploying the S-300 Russian missiles. This support
spoiled them so much that their head priest started to call for war.
Infuriated by the statement of Holbrooke, the US special envoy for Cyprus
the Greek Cypriot politicians and media started a concerted attack on him.
In fact their disappointment went so far as to cause an argument amongst
themselves. 
According to Greek Cypriot media, Fake president
Clerides was “infuriated” with Holbrooke and issued a written
statement, claiming that “Holbrooke had misinterpreted his positions.”
Clerides denied accepting that he did not represent the entire Cyprus Republic
and also complained that Holbrooke had not blamed the Turkish side for
the impasse, as he had previously said he would do.
The statement further said, “the President of the Republic
has never accepted that the relevant article of the 1960 Constitution,
which specifies that he represents the Republic of Cyprus, has ceased to
be valid.”
On 6 May Greek Cypriot newspapers published articles that
attacked Holbrooke because of his statement.
Simerini under the headline "Clerides's Fury", said that Holbrooke
had refused to blame President Rauf Denktash openly for the current impasse
and, by claiming that Clerides had admitted he did not represent "the
people of northern Cyprus", had opened new windows for the recognition
of the TRNC.
Phileleftheros, quoting sources close to Clerides, said
that during the president's last meeting with Holbrooke the American envoy
had promised to blame Denktash for the impasse.
Fake President of Cyprus
Glafkos Clerides
Haravghi the mouth piece of the communist party AKEL, said Holbrooke's
statements proved beyond doubt that the "US had no intention to put pressure
on the aggressor, the Turkish side, which is provocative, intransigent
and is methodically promoting its expansionist policies." .... "Putting
all our hopes in the US basket, and the illusions cultivated by Clerides
and his supporters about the role of the Americans, have proved harmful
for the struggle of our people."
Machi, the newspaper of the evil terrorist Nicos Sampson, accused
the Greek Cypriot regime of constantly pandering to the US and claimed
that they were turning the Greek Cypriots "into lackeys of the Americans,"
and said: "We must prepare for war now, if we want peace."
After the attack Washington made statements trying to ease the
fears of the Greek Cypriot side but the statements failed to satisfy them.
In fact they were confirming Holbrooke's observations.
Greek Cypriot newspapers published on 9 May 1998 carried on
with the attack and criticism of the US and questioned her intentions.
Phileleftheros said that despite Washington's attempts to make
some cosmetic modifications to Holbrooke's recent statements relating to
recognition of the TRNC, the US had for the first time referred to the
"existence of two peoples on the island." Newspaper cited comments
by State Department spokesman James Foley and said that it was the same
as that of Holbrooke's views. In his statement, Foley spoke of
"two peoples on the island who were isolated from each other."
Foley also noted that "not all people in Cyprus felt they were represented
by the Cyprus government."
Haravghi said that in an attempt to "sweeten the
pill of a partitionist solution", the US was promoting the establishment
of a "transitional" confederation of two states, claiming it would evolve
into a federation with the passing of time and claimed that the political
circles in Athens and Nicosia had accepted the US plan. Supporters of the
plan were naive to think that a confederation would be transitional. On
the contrary, such a plan would partition the island for good, the paper
said.
In the mean time, Spyros Kyprianou, the leader of a Greek Cypriot
political party accused Glafcos Clerides and Athens for the current situation.
Kyprianou said that "as a result of Athens step by step approach towards
normalising relations with Turkiye, Cyprus is now staring partition in
the face" and blamed Clerides for being ill prepared for Holbrooke's visit.
The defiant attitude and the panic that the Greek Cypriots are
going through stems from the fear of the recognition of the Turkish Cypriot
side. For over thirty four years they occupied the Republic of Cyprus
and used all the political and the economical benefits of it, now that
they think there is a possibility that the TRNC might be recognised they
are all panicking.
Suddenly, Clerides
has remembered the 1960 constitution, only the parts that are useful for
him of course, and not the parts that define the rights of the Turkish
Cypriots.
This hypocritical behaviour applies
not only to Greeks-Greek Cypriots but it also applies to British government
and the EU officials.
When the sovereignty
of the British bases in Cyprus is questioned by the likes of Greek Cypriot
MP Marios Matsakis British officials remember the 1960 constitution.
Likes of Hans Van Den Brook accuses Turkiye and the
TRNC claiming that their action is against the "international legality"
but completely ignores the international legality of the 1960 agreements.
This will not do at all. Neither Turkiye nor TRNC will give in to these
unjust attacks.
As for Clerides he reminds us
of the wicked witch in the story of the 'Snow White'. Like the wicked witch
he asks "Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the president of them all"?
We can imagine the mirror replying: "You might be the president, but not
the president of them all." Oops! There goes the mirror.
Yes Mr. Fake president of Cyprus you
will never be the president of the Turkish Cypriots.
Representative
Gustave Feissel has also managed to infuriate the Greek Cypriots when he
used words stressing the existence of the TRNC.
Turkish Cypriot Network hosted its first cocktail
reception at the Chelsea Beach Club last month.
Amongst the guests, were members of the House of Lords, MPs,
members and representatives of other Turkish Cypriot associations, prominent
Turkish businessmen, and a large number of journalists from
the British media.
Coordinator of the TCN, Mr. Akmen A. Sitki, delivered
a speech explaining the aims and objectives of the TCN.
Mr. Sitki said that the main objectives of the TCN were to
“promote the human rights and liberties of all Turkish Cypriots in the
UK and throughout the world and to promote the just cause of Turkish Cypriots
with a view to achieving a peaceful solution to the Cyprus conflict.”
Mr. Sitki also stressed that this could only be achieved through recognition
of the sovereignty and equality of the Turkish Cypriots.
Taking the floor after Mr. Sitki, the Ambassador of the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Mr. Hakki Muftuzade commended TCN members
for the lobby activities they have been carrying out on behalf of the TRNC
and the Turkish Cypriots and stressed that “as long as the TRNC is not
recognised, a solution in Cyprus is not possible.”
Amongst the guest speakers were John D. Taylor MP, Jamie Cann
MP and Mr. Michael Stephen.
Mr. Taylor said that he supported Turkish Cypriots since 1974
and said that he considered the policy of the British government that supports
the unilateral application of the Greek Cypriot regime to EU membership
to be wrong. “US is saying that the EU has made a
mistake. This is an important step. Look at the newspapers, supporters
of the Turkish Cypriot cause is on the increase; you are winning. You will
win .” said Mr. Taylor.
Speaking after Mr. Taylor, Mr. Michael Stephen, who was
a member of the previous parliament and is an expert in international affairs
said that because of the British bases in Cyprus, British government is
pursuing a policy that supports the Greek Cypriots. Mr Stephen stressed
that it was because of this policy that in 1963 and 1974 Britain failed
to fulfil its obligations as a guarantor country.
Mr. Harry Scott Gibbons, the author of “Genocide
Files” said that he personally witnessed the plight of the Turkish
Cypriots and said: “The best solution to Cyprus conflict
was achieved in 1974.”
The last speaker of the night, Jamie Cann MP, the head
of the Friends of North Cyprus, reiterated their support for the Turkish
Cypriot cause and said that this support will carry on. He
also told the gathering to remember that it was not the Turkish Cypriots
who were shooting the British soldiers and civilians back in the fifties.
Also at the reception Mr. Kerim Uras, first secretary
to the Turkish Ambassador Mr. Ozdem Sanberk read a message from the ambassador
commending the work of the TCN and reiterating his and Turkiye’s support
for the Turkish Cypriots.
The reception proved once again that the TCN enjoys
a great support from the Turkish Cypriot community in the UK. The successful
evening encouraged our members to carry on with the activities to promote
the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. We like to take this opportunity to
thank once again all our members for their support and thank all
the guests who attended.
Sermet
Atacanli, the Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman said on 11 May
1998 that Robin Cook, the British Foreign Minister is to visit Ankara on
19 May 1998 and said that this can be an important step concerning the
improvement of the Turkish-European Union relations.
Former US Secretary of State, James Baker said in his speech during a conference in Washington that increasing relation in trade, economy and the military between Turkiye and Israel was a positive development. He added: "Turkey is a geo-strategically important country not only for the US but also for the free world. The European attitude towards Turkey, which aims to be a part of the West, is pitiful. Turkey is a NATO ally."
The Eu decision taken at Luxembourg to start the accession talks with
South Cyprus in the name of all Cyprus has changed the parameters of the
talks because it simply sees the Turkish Cypriots as a minority. The US
envoy Richard Holbrooke is saying openly that EU decision made things difficult.
UN representative for Cyprus Gustav Feissel is saying so. UN envoy for
Cyprus Diego Cordevez had said so. Turkish Cypriots and Turkiye have been
saying so. Reputable Western media is saying so. Guess what; there are
some odd people around who are claming otherwise. Yes; these are Greeks,
Greek Cypriots and North London MEP Pauline Green. Speaking after a recent
meeting with the fake president Glafcos Clerides, Pauline Green claimed
that the EU factor is acting as a catalyst in finding a solution. She also
expressed regret that Turkiye had reacted badly to the preconditions set
at the Luxembourg summit for it to move closer to the EU.
If Cyprus becomes a member to the EUas a whole, where Turkiye
is not a member, in a short period Turkish Cypriots will be wiped off the
island for good. Greeks will have every right to move into North. Protection
of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation will be abolished with the EU rules
and regulations. Turkiye on the other hand will lose all her rights given
to her under the international treaties.
Is it a wonder that the Turkish Cypriots
and Turkiye are reacting badly to a decision that will see the end of the
Turkish presence in Cyprus and that will put Turkiye in a vulnerable situation
surrounded by Greece?
Is it a wonder that the Greeks-Greek Cypriots
and Pauline Green think the EU membership is beneficial?