Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.02.12) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has alleged that the Greek Cypriot officials live “in a world of dreams”, that for years they do not tell the truth to their people and that they deceive their people by saying that all Greek Cypriot refugees will return back to their homes, which they were forced to abandon during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
Eroglu briefed yesterday a delegation from the TMT so-called fighters’ association on the Cyprus negotiations.
Eroglu claimed that it is not possible for all the Greek Cypriot refugees to return back and argued that in the meantime a “state” was established and a socioeconomic structure was created in the occupied north part of the island.
Eroglu said that he is aware of what he represents at the negotiating table and what kind of solution is expected from him. He said that if an agreement with which the Turkish Cypriot “people” will be able to live in peace and security on their land is possible, they will search for this agreement, but if this is not possible they have other ways and the will to search for these ways.
Eroglu alleged that there was no imposition by Turkey on them during the negotiations. He noted: “We prepare our views and our thoughts, we are carrying out the negotiations having a dialogue [Translator’s note: with Turkey]. Of course we continue to be in dialogue, but there is no imposition on us by Turkey in the negotiations, as some believe”.
Arguing that Turkey is “TRNC’s”, [Translator’s note: breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus] motherland, Eroglu claimed that neither they could abandon Turkey nor Turkey could abandon them. He alleged that there could be no “TRNC” without Turkey and therefore they struggle for years to carry their relations with Turkey to the “warmest point”.
Eroglu claimed also that Turkey’s moving away from the “TRNC” would be dangerous for the future of the Turkish Cypriots and that the “TRNC” needs Turkey’s aid in order to be able to stand on its own feet.
Noting that the people living in Turkey are their brothers, Eroglu, argued: “Those who come here are also our Turkish brothers. Therefore, it is dangerous for our future to create problems between the two peoples, to try to create problems among the people who came in different times from different areas [Translator’s note: illegal Turkish settlers who came to the occupied area of Cyprus from Turkey after 1974 Turkish invasion]…”