TRNC News 17.8.2017 Özgürgün: "Turkish Cypriots recognise the importance of the ‘Happy Peace Operation’"

Speaking yesterday (16th August) during the ceremony to commemorate the liberation of Lefke as part of the Second Peace Operation, Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün said that Turkish Cypriots recognise the importance of the ‘Happy Peace Operation’. He said, “We celebrated our liberation with enthusiasm in the ceremonies organised in Serdarlı, Gazimağusa and Lefke. We also burst into tears before the graves of the people that were brutally killed, including innocent and defenceless children, women and elderly, in Muratağa Atlılar and Sandallar”. Özgürgün added that commemorating the Second Peace Operation, which began on 14 August 1974 and lasted for three days, brings excitement and enthusiasm because it crowned them with victory.

He stressed that these painful events are the greatest proof of why the Turkish Cypriots feel that the guarantee of Turkey, that makes many sacrifices for the Turkish Cypriots to live freely and safely in their homeland, is essential for them. Özgürgün underlined that the fight was against those who wanted to make the island a “Greek Island”.

He emphasised that the second phase of the Cyprus Peace Operation, which freed the Turkish land at Lefke, brought peace and tranquillity to the island, and that the troubled years have been left behind.

TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Owing to Motherland Turkey’s two-phased Peace Operation, the Turkish Cypriots have the opportunity to live freely and securely on their own land.”

The TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in response to the Greek Cypriot Administration’s statement on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the second phase of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. The statement is as follows:

“We strongly condemn the Greek Cypriot Administration’s statements on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation’s second phase, in which it is alleged that the so-called invasion must come to an end and that Ankara must abandon its irreconcilable stance.

It is very well known that, Motherland Turkey intervened in Cyprus on 20 July 1974 against the coup d’etat carried out by Greece in 1974, exercising its rights and obligations that arise from international agreements. The second phase of the Peace Operation took place on 14 August 1974 and the date carries great importance in the Turkish Cypriot Community’s struggle for existence. Owing to Motherland Turkey’s two-phased Peace Operation, the Turkish Cypriots have the opportunity to live freely and securely on their own land.

It must not be forgotten that, the timely intervention of Turkey did not only prevent annexation of Cyprus to Greece, but also laid the foundations of democracy in the whole island while bringing peace, security and state of stability for the Turkish Cypriot people. In light of this reality, it must be known by all that we will not allow any damage to the state of peace and tranquillity which has been established on the island after great struggle.

The rightful intervention of Turkey is based on 1959-60 Zurich and London Agreements and is in accordance with the international law. Contrary to the accusations in the said statement, it is the very same Greek Cypriot Administration that expelled Turkish Cypriots – the equal partner of the 1960 partnership state – from the administration and government bodies by force of arms and subverted constitutional order with unilateral use of force. Even after a settlement in the framework of new modalities between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, the presence of Turkish troops on the island will remain the most important element ensuring the security of the Turkish Cypriot people.

The unfair accusations in the statement by the Greek Cypriot Administration, according to which Turkey bears the responsibility for the collapse of the Conference in Crans-Montana, can never be accepted. Contrary to the claims in question, the international community has also witnessed the constructive and well-intentioned efforts exhibited by the Turkish Cypriot side and Motherland Turkey. As a matter of fact, the only reason behind the failure to reach a deal in the latest conference held in Crans-Montana is the Greek Cypriot side’s strategy that rejects power sharing with the Turkish Cypriots on the basis of political equality and by further prolonging and bringing the process to a standstill, strengthening its recognition in the international arena.

Now that the process has failed and it became evident that it would not be possible to reach a solution within the UN parameters, instead of making baseless allegations, we invite the Greek Cypriot side to look for ways of living side by side and in peace with the Turkish Cypriots, pursuant to good neighbourly relations.”

Çavuşoğlu: “Security and Guarantees are just excuses”

During a program on TRT News television, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu evaluated the Cyprus issue.

He said that the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece will never accept an agreement within the current UN parameters. He said, “Because their state is an EU member, they do not want to share the administration and power. Security and Guarantees are just excuses.”

Çavuşoğlu stated that Turkey stands by the people of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the negotiation process and said, “There had been negotiations on the island within the UN framework. From the 6 chapters, agreements were reached on four of them but we couldn’t reach agreements on the last two chapters which were territory and security and guarantees. We want to discuss them together and want to find a solution”.

Pointing out that both the TRNC and Turkey did their utmost to find a solution, Çavuşoğlu emphasised that they presented very concrete proposals from the first day of negotiations and that everyone saw that Turkey and the TRNC were extremely logical and constructive.

Çavuşoğlu also criticised the drilling works in the sea around Cyprus and said, “The Turkish Cypriot people also have rights on those resources.”

Özgürgün: “Cooperation between the TRNC and Turkey will increase”

Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün received Turkey’s Finance Minister Naci Ağbal, who travelled to the TRNC to participate in the opening ceremony of the E-Tax Automation System.

Following the meeting, Özgürgün said that the cooperation between the Finance Ministries of Turkey and the TRNC will increase. He said, “We are developing many projects like this with Turkey within the framework of the Financial Cooperation Protocol. We are cooperating in financial, economic, infrastructure and development projects”

Turkey’s Finance Minister Naci Ağbal said that the E-Tax Automation System will offer important services to the citizens and will help increase the existing cooperation between the two countries. Ağbal added that many automations of the Turkish Tax Administration will be available in the TRNC as part of this project.