July 20 Is Beginning Of Survival For Turkish Cypriots, President Talat

LEFKOSA - President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Mehmet Ali Talat, said Monday that July 20 was the beginning of survival for the Turkish Cypriots.

We should not view July 20 as the cause of deadlock but rather as a discourse that leads to solution, Talat said.

We are not far away from a solution to the Cyprus problem. Taking lessons from inconsistent behaviours of the Greek Cypriots or the European Union (EU) in the past and not wishing to cause disappointment for the Turkish Cypriots again, we are acting quietly and in a prudent fashion, Talat said.

An official ceremony took place on Lefkosa's Dr. Fazil Kucuk Boulevard on Monday to mark the 35th anniversary of July 20 Peace and Freedom Day.

Secretary General of the Turkish Presidency, Mustafa Isen, conveyed President Abdullah Gul's message to President Talat. Talat, in return, presented his message for Gul to Mustafa Isen.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Talat said that, with July 20, the safety of Turkish Cypriots and security of their properties were established.

With July 20, basic rights and freedoms of Turkish Cypriots were taken under security and their rights of partnership in Cyprus were affirmed. Accordingly, the role of Turkish Cypriots in establishing peace came up once again after having suffered immense pain as a result of attacks from the Greeks and Greek Cypriots, Talat said.

With July 20, we have moved towards a realistic, peaceful and permanent solution, Talat said.

July 20 is the beginning of survival for Turkish Cypriots. This date is not a symbol of a deadlock but rather should be seen as a way to seek solution, Talat stressed.

A solution in Cyprus could not have been reached by disregarding the presence of the Turkish Cypriots, leaving the Turkish Cypriots out of the economic, social and cultural life of the island, and by denying Turkish Cypriots political equality and self-rule. The political parameters that came out on July 20, 1974 have shown the reality to the Greek Cypriots and the whole world in a solid fashion, Talat said.

At the base of celebrations to mark the 35th anniversary of July 20 lie the political rights attained by Turkish Cypriots until 1960, Talat said. "Rights such as founder of the Republic of Cyprus, self-rule and the guarantor status of the Republic of Turkey".

Thanks to the Peace Operation of July 20, we are not scared to lose our lives when we go to bed and sleep at night, Talat stressed.

Our ultimate goal is to reach a just, permanent and secure solution, to receive the status we deserve in the EU, and to receive recognition by international laws, Talat said.

We thank the authorities of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) who have made the Peace Operation of July 20 possible and the Turkish people for extending support to Turkish Cypriots and remember those killed in action and veterans with respect and appreciation, Talat also said.

Gaining independence from the UK in 1960, Cyprus became a bi-communal republic where Greek and Turkish Cypriot constituent communities would share power guaranteed by the UK, Turkey and Greece.

However, reluctant to share power and pursuing a policy of Enosis (Union) with Greece, Greek Cypriots soon expelled Turkish Cypriots from power and terrorised and ghettoised them.

An Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island that culminated decades long armed attacks on the defenseless Turkish Cypriots in 1974 led to Turkey's military intervention and the island's eventual split into Turkish and Greek Cypriot parts.

Although the Republic of Cyprus as described in the 1959 agreements is no longer there, Greek Cypriots continue to enjoy this title and international recognition while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a fully democratic government representing Turkish Cypriots, still suffers under an unfair political and economic blockade.