Turkish Cypriot columnist assesses why Gul and Eroglu are not sincere when saying that they want a solution in Cyprus
Under the title “We were not breathing anyway”, Turkish Cypriot columnist Mehmet Levent assesses in Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.07.14) the statements made by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu and the Turkish President Abdullah Gul during the celebrations in the occupied part of Nicosia on the occasion of the 40th anniversary from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
Levent writes, inter alia, the following:
“…During the 20 July celebrations, Eroglu brought onto the agenda again his five step road map. He said that they are waiting from Anastasiades to reply to these steps until 24 July.
It is as if Abdullah Gul and Dervis Eroglu have entered into a race of sincerity agreeing on what they would say. They died from sincerity! ‘We sincerely want a solution’, they say! Within all this sincerity, Eroglu has a message for Ban Ki-moon. He says: ‘Let the UN declare that it could abolish the UN Security Council Resolution No 550!’ It is known that this Resolution No 550 considers the TRNC as illegal and unacceptable. And prohibits any kind of political, economic and trade relations with it. Abolishing this Resolution is tantamount to opening the way for the TRNC’s recognition. Such a step taken by the UN could allegedly force the Greek Cypriot side to an agreement. Now come and believe that Eroglu, who made this suggestion, sincerely wants the solution!
What could be said for Abdullah Gul’s sincerity? He also sincerely wants the solution, he says. Then let us also ask sincerely. Since you want the solution so sincerely, have you returned Varosha, which you occupy for 40 years, to its real owners?Have you withdrawn considerable number of troops from northern Cyprus which you occupy? Have you given up from turning all the people from Turkey living here into citizens of the new state to be established?Have you gone one centimetre backwards from the 29%? Have you accepted the realities on the property issue? Or are all these outside of your mold of sincerity?Is it sincerity to say that ‘we have changed all international balances without withdrawing even a single soldier, without giving even a single pebble’? There is no reason not to name the solution you want, and thus your festivity at dawn will be completed! What else could the solution you sincerely want be other than a solution which will be legalizing all the illegal fait accompli created by Turkey in Northern Cyprus for 40 years?Is it sincerity to celebrate the anniversary of the occupation with your tanks, your artillery, your guns, your dawn guards and making the breaths stopping with your ‘Turkish stars’?”
