IZMIR - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ambassador to Turkey Ahmet Zeki Bulunc said on Tuesday that Turkish Cypriot people in Cyprus had been under pressure for years and stated, ''Cyprus is an issue of human rights.''
Delivering a speech on ''Cyprus From Yesterday to Today'' in Dokuz Eylul University's International Relations Club, Bulunc said that Cyprus was one of the most important issues of Turkey.
Bulunc said that diagnosis of the problem should be made to reach solution and compromise in Cyprus.
''There are two main factors on the basis of Turkey's foreign policy on Cyprus: One of them is to ensure sovereignty, tranquility and security of Turkish people who were forced to migrate from Anatolia to Cyprus after 1571 and the other is not to use the island in a way which may endanger Turkey's security due to geopolitical importance of the island. Greek Cypriot people and Greek people started the problem as of 1974 as if it did not take place between 1963 and 1974. Cyprus issue started with Akritas plan which was launched in December 21, 1963. Cyprus is an issue of human rights. Rights of Turkish people were ignored for years. This situation was removed by 1974 Peace Operation,'' he stated.
Bulunc listed necessary factors for a lasting agreement in Cyprus and said, ''there should be sovereignty of two states and two peoples. Political equality should be ensured. Bi-zonal and bi-communal structure should be maintained. Turkey's right which it achieved by agreements on effective and de facto guaranty should continue. Land should be distributed as to the quality in place of rate of population. Right to be represented should be given by rate of population.''
(EÖ-AY) 03.06.2003