November 15: TRNC Celebrates 19th Year of Independence
Rep. Burton: "It's time to re-think Cyprus"
The Turkish Times - The Assembly of Turkish American Associations congratulated all Turkish Cypriots and Turks around the world on the 19th Anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

"At a time when the search for a just and viable solution in Cyprus continues with the presentation by the UN Secretary General of new ideas for a settlement, it is important to note that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is and will continue to be one of the corner stones of peace, stability and reconciliation on the island and in the region," said ATAA President Dr. Orhan Kaymakcalan.

"We wish to express our profound gratitude to Congressman Dan Burton for setting the record straight on the painful history of Turkish Cypriots and on their ongoing struggle for justice," he said.

(Extensions of Remarks - Nov.14, 2002)

HON. DAN BURTON OF INDIANA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 13, 2002

Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on 15 November 2002, Turkish Cypriots are celebrating the 19th Anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The historic decision by the Turkish Cypriots to declare independence was not a separatist endeavor, but an act of self-defense undertaken 20 years after being forced out of the bi-national partnership State of 1960 by the Greek Cypriot partner; and having been physically driven from their homes and properties in 103 villages across the island in a campaign of violence and ethnic cleansing that had started in 1963. Terrorized, displaced and disenfranchised, the Turkish Cypriots had no choice but to reorganize themselves in the areas or ``enclaves'' under their control, in a collective act of survival, and to start running their own affairs.

As to what happened afterwards, let us hear it from Mr. Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader,as candidly recounted in his memoirs entitled ``Cyprus: My Deposition.'' (Vol. 111, pp. 236-237):

"In the years that followed a steady, stage-by-stage development is noted in the Turkish administration, with the separation in its legislative, executive and judicial powers. An administrative organization is created, as well as police force and army. The increase of the financial resources of the Turkish Cypriots through economic aid from Turkey permitted the functioning of their administration on a more permanent basis, a fact which they made clear, by renaming their ``Temporary Turkish Cypriot Administration'' to ``Turkish Cypriot Administration.'' Thus there exist today in Cyprus two poles of power on a separate geographical basis; i.e., the Government of the Cyprus Republic, controlling the largest section of the territory of the state and internationally recognized, and the Turkish Cypriot Administration, which controls a very limited area and is not internationally recognized, but has already taken almost all the characteristics of a small state. "

This State is now the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is a product of the exercise, by the Turkish Cypriot people, of their inalienable right to self-determination on 15 November 1983.

The Turkish Cypriot Independence Declaration contains all the principles and ideals that are universal to mankind, and are very familiar to the American people, such as ``that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness'' and that ``Governments derive their just Powers from the Consent of the governed.'' In this Declaration, the Turkish Cypriots also extended a hand of friendship to the Greek Cypriots and called for the peaceful resolution of all their differences. That hand of peace and friendship remains extended today.

It should be clear from the above brief history that the Turkish Cypriot people never owed any allegiance to the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus, which has no legal or moral right to claim to represent anyone other than the Greek Cypriot people. The said administration, under the pretentious title of the ``Government of Cyprus,'' has no jurisdiction to represent or act on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people, whose sole legitimate representatives are those elected under the Constitution of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The fact that the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides are political equals and that neither of the parties can represent the other has been underlined by the UN Secretary-General on 12 September, 2000 as follows:

" I have ascertained that the parties share a common desire to bring about, through negotiations in which each represents its side--and no-one else--as the political equal of the other, a comprehensive settlement enshrining a new partnership. . ."

This fact has also been expressed by other foreign dignitaries, such as Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. Presidential Special Emissary for Cyprus, who, at a press conference held on 4 May 1998 in Cyprus, stated the following:

" I think it is very clear and no one has disputed that Glafcos Clerides does not represent or have control over the people of Northern Cyprus."

The former Italian Foreign Minister, Mr. Lamberto Dini, expressed the reality of the existence of two independent and sovereign States representing the two peoples of the island in his statement of 26 August 1997, even in clearer terms:

" It has to be recognized that there are two republics in Cyprus, two entities, two governments . . .and therefore, if the European Union does not recognize this basic fact, in conducting negotiations for membership, then you bump into the problem

. . . that one of the parties would not accept negotiations, going on with only what, in effect, is the Greek Republic of Cyprus. "

The way to the future in Cyprus must be based on this reality, rather than the myth that there is only one government in the island and that this is the Greek Cypriot administration. The Turkish Cypriot side has again demonstrated its good will in regard to a settlement by initiating the face-to-face talks between the two parties which started in December 2001 and are still continuing. However, these talks, already facing great difficulty because of the unilateral and unlawful EU aspirations of the Greek Cypriot side, face even a greater threat by the prospect of a positive decision on this matter by the European Union at its approaching summit in Copenhagen in early December 2002.

It is sincerely hoped that the EU will act in full awareness of the fact that such a decision before a settlement can only perpetuate the division in Cyprus and will refrain from doing so. The decades-long negotiating process in Cyprus should have demonstrated to all concerned that worn-out clichés and tried-and-failed formulas have not worked in Cyprus, and a bold new approach is needed. With its democratic system of government, respect for rule of law and human rights, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus deserves to be treated on a par with the Greek Cypriot State in the South. The two States can then come together to forge a common future on the basis of equality and a new partnership, also serving as a bridge of cooperation between Turkey and Greece, two allies the United States, which have direct interests and responsibilities vis-a-vis Cyprus. This is the way to lasting, peace and reconciliation in the island as well as the eastern Mediterranean region.

Is it not time for all concerned to rethink their approach to the Cyprus issue and bring it in line with the realities on the island?