LEFKOSA - It was not legally, politically or practically possible for the Greek Cypriot Administration to represent the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) or to exercise sovereignty over the island as a whole, TRNC Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Saturday.
A statement of the Ministry underlined that that reality was also reiterated in the comprehensive settlement plan submitted to the two sides in Cyprus by the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The statement said, ''the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus is among the ten new members which will be joining the EU as of 1 May 2004. It is a fact that the Greek Cypriot side which is being accepted as a member under the title of 'Republic of Cyprus' is not the Partnership State established between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots in 1960 but an entity which represents only the Greek Cypriots living in South Cyprus. Given this reality, which has also been reiterated in the comprehensive settlement plan submitted to the two sides by U.N. Secretary General Annan, it is not legally, politically, or practically possible for the Greek Cypriot administration to represent the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or to exercise sovereignty over the island as a whole. It is not valid to claim such a right either.''
''The Turkish Cypriot side has supported from the beginning efforts towards finding a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue within the good offices mission of the U.N. Secretary General. While doing this, the Turkish Cypriot side has repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that the treatment accorded to the Greek Cypriot side by third parties as if it is the sole legitimate government representing the island as a whole, and in this framework its acceptance as a candidate country to the EU, will have adverse effects on the efforts towards a settlement,'' the statement noted.
The statement went on saying, ''for its part, the Turkish Cypriot side has done everything it can to facilitate the resolution of the Cyprus issue prior to 1 May 2004 and thus enable the entry of a united Cyprus into the EU within the framework of a comprehensive settlement. The preference of the U.N., the EU and the international community have all been in this direction and the good offices mission of the U.N. Secretary General has received strong support from all concerned.''
''The results of separate simultaneous referenda held in accordance with an agreed framework in South Cyprus and the TRNC are known. While the Turkish Cypriot people have expressed its will in favor of a united Cyprus entering the EU, an overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriots have voted to reject the comprehensive settlement plan of the Secretary General and to enter the EU unilaterally. In the face of this situation, it is now indispensable for the EU in particular and the international community in general, to make a reevaluation in respect of the Cyprus issue,'' the statement said.
The statement continued, ''it is now time for the Turkish Cypriots, who have been pushed out of the partnership Republic destroyed by the Greek Cypriot side in 1963 and unjustly subjected to isolation, to be rid of such restrictions and to integrate with the international community. For this purpose, political, economic and other embargoes and restrictions on the TRNC have to be lifted. It is indispensable that the EU adopts effective and tangible measures for improvement vis-a-vis North Cyprus. It would be unthinkable to maintain unjust policies towards the TRNC while awarding the Greek Cypriot side with the benefits of membership, given that the Greek Cypriot side has demonstrated its uncompromising stance by the recent referendum. It is also a reality that the situation whereby the international community in the past accorded recognition to the Greek Cypriot side as the 'Cyprus Government' under the doctrine of necessity, no longer exists.''
''The Turkish Cypriots, as a people who have organized themselves within the territorial boundaries of their homeland and under their constitutional order, have been exercising sovereignty and ruling themselves,'' the statement said.
The statement added, ''as the Turkish Cypriot side, we expect the EU and all other institutions which cherish the principles of democracy and the rule of law, to reevaluate promptly their approach towards the two sides in Cyprus, conscious of the realities manifested by the separate referenda in Cyprus, namely the existence of two peoples, the fact that neither side can dominate or represent the other. We hope that the present situation arising from the distinct manifestation of the will of the two peoples in separate referenda will be carefully evaluated by all interested institutions.''
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side voted United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in simultaneous referenda held on April 24.
Sixty-five percent of Turkish Cypriots voted ''yes'' to the Annan plan while 35.09 percent voted against the plan in the simultaneous referenda. A total of 75.83 percent of the Greek Cypriots said ''no'' to the plan while 24.17 of them voted ''yes.''
The rate of participation in the referendum was 84.35 in TRNC and 96.53 percent in the Greek Cypriot side.
The Greek Cypriot side joined on Saturday the EU together with nine other countries including Estonia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) of the European Union (EU) took on Wednesday measures to ease economic isolation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with changes it made to Cyprus regulations.
The measures taken by COREPER, comprised of permanent representatives of EU member countries in Brussels, facilitate sale of goods produced in TRNC, which have been subject to embargoes so far, in EU market across the Green Line.
EU justice and interior ministers ratified on Thursday Cyprus regulations which were defined as a ''first step'' to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots.
(BRC) 02.05.2004