Who Is Responsible For Northern Cyprus's Problems?

TURKIYE- Columnist Ismet Giritli gives information on the history of Turksh Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in order to address certain misconceptions. A summary of his column is as follows:
In some articles it has been claimed that Cyprus was being used by the followers of Its leader Rauf Denktas Denktas and because of mistaken policies pursued, the TRNC was turned into a desert whereas the Greek Cypriot administration became an oasis. To address these claims, the TRNC Constitution and political realities must be understood. The Constitution of the TRNC based on the Turkish-Cypriot's right to self-determination and stressing political equality was accepted on 15 November 1983 by a referendum held in northern Cyprus and after being published in the Official Gazette. According to this Constitution, the TRNC president is elected for a five-year period and he has to receive the absolute majority of the valid votes. If none of the candidates is able to attract an absolute majority, the election is repeated between the two candidates who have received the highest number of votes. Legislation in the TRNC is carried out by a Republican Parliament comprised of 50 deputies belonging to various parties. The executive wing consists of the president and the council of ministers. President Rauf Denktas has been elected every five years since 1983 by the Turkish Cypriots. The parliament and the council of ministers is not made up by Denktas' followers but by members of various political parties. If today the national per capita income in Southern Cyprus is over $13,000 but is $4,000 in the TRNC, it would be unjust to lay all the blame on the TRNC administration. Since its foundation in 1983, boycotts in numerous fields beginning with tourism have been implemented against the TRNC. Since 1994 this has turned into an economic embargo, and as if this were not enough, upon the request of Greek Cypriot administration the Court of Justice of the European Communities banned exports from the TRNC to the EU countries, which had made up fully 60% of its trade, while the aid extended to the Greek Cypriot administration until recently reached 9 million EUROs. That this figure is due to reach 57 million EUROs before Greek Cypriot Cyprus becomes a member of the EU, and in compliance with the Constitution of the Cyprus state, Greek Cyprus is getting the share allotted for the Turkish side as well. The adverse effects of all these developments on the TRNC cannot be denied.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION