Ecevit: Greek Cypriot Side Has Never Been A Legitimate State

ISTANBUL - Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and the former prime minister Bulent Ecevit said on Sunday that the Greek Cypriot society has never been a legitimate state, adding that ''the Greek Cypriot state is illegitimate. It violated its own constitution and international agreements.''
Speaking in a meeting held by his party in Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall, Ecevit said that ''those who claim that they want to solve the Cyprus problem don't know the historical reality of Cyprus or they pretend ignorance. For this reason certain persons and sections are deceived by certain games and tricks.''
''Turkish Cypriots have more rights in Cyprus than the Greek Cypriots. There has never been a Greek Cypriot state in Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot state is illegitimate,'' Ecevit said.
Noting that the EU and the U.S. ignore the realities in Cyprus, Ecevit said that Cyprus can't join any organization of which Turkey is not a member under the international agreements.
''The EU and the U.S. violate international agreements and the EU decides to admit the Greek Cypriot side to the EU,'' said Ecevit, stressing that TRNC is a democratic state. Ecevit stressed that the U.S. implemented severe embargoes on Turkey after 1974, adding that the 1974 Peace Operation brought peace and democracy to the island. Ecevit stressed that although TRNC is not recognized by the world, the diplomas given by nine universities in TRNC are accepted worldwide.