Turkish Cypriots prefer two separate states
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Monday, 03 August 2009 06:26
Turkish Cypriots prefer two separate statesTurkish Cypriots with first-hand experience of the war-divided island’s violent past and anxious present believe the best way to maintain peace is by living in two separate states.
While U.N.-mediated talks for a settlement for the island of Cyprus proceed, Turkish Cypriots with first-hand experience of the war-divided island’s violent past and anxious present believe the best way to maintain peace is by living in two separate states.
They quote concerns for physical safety and lack of trust as the reasons for preferring a federal solution. The talks will continue Aug. 6 between Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat aiming to establish a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality.
Before clarifying his views on the future of Cyprus, Kamil Meriç, 61, from Atl?lar village shows a picture of his family – his wife Fatma and five children between the ages of 1.5 and 6 years. The photo is hanging on the wall of a museum commemorating the killing of Turkish Cypriot civilians by Greek Cypriot forces at Murata?a, Sandallar and Atl?lar villages in August 1974.
“I don’t want anyone to go through the same experiences as I did,” Meriç started, pointing at the picture. “If we try to wipe away the events of the past and live together like before 1974, in the future someone else will experience what I did,” he told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
Meriç is guiding visitors in the old primary school near the mass grave. The building is dedicated to the memory of the 89 civilian victims of the three villages who were killed two weeks after a military junta in Greece declared “Enosis,” union with Cyprus, prompting Turkey’s intervention. Enosis was based on the ideal of purely Greek Cyprus, which would have left few, if any rights for the island’s Turkish minority. After Meriç was taken as a prisoner along with 50 other men, his family was shot, burned and buried near the village.
He said he hoped the world would recognize the Turkish Cypriot state. “We hope to stay where we are today, with guarantees from Turkey. There has now been peace for 35 years. Greek Cypriots and the world should recognize us. Let us all live in peace and never suffer again.”
Seeking free movement:
Ya?ar, a 59-year-old taxi driver from Nicosia, said that the future Cyprus should be formed of two separate states with a clearly defined, yet an open border. “If there is a solution then it should be a federation of two states, which are separately managed, but represent one country to the outside world,” said Ya?ar, who only gave his first name.
A clear border is needed because that would make Turkish Cypriots feel safe, Ya?ar said. “Before the Turkish operation in 1974, Turkish Cypriots experienced so many things. The 1960s and early 1970s were terrible. I used to drive to my family’s village in Paphos and be stopped by the Greek police seven times each way, be questioned and beaten up,” he said. “There should be free movement. We should be able to cross to the other side like today. Turkish forces came here to protect us. We now feel safe. I don’t want them to leave,” he said.
Ya?ar is also keen to tell about a touching reunion with his Greek Cypriot friends in 2003 after the border opened. Nowadays he visits the Greek side frequently. “After so many years I saw them again, we used to work together. The meeting was very emotional, I can’t describe it. I had thought of them so many times, missed them so much,” he said.
Mehmet Dolmac?, a 40-year-old tourism professional, noted his opinion on the solution is based on historical events and on the present day embargo. Dolmac? was born in a Turkish Cypriot enclave in Nicosia where he lived until 1974. Today he is the president of the Northern Cyprus Hoteliers’ Association.
“There should be two independent states, which for the outside world is one Cyprus. Now there is peace on the island but no solution, so we want one,” Dolmac? said.
He said he would prefer no solution over a solution that would require him to live together with Greek Cypriots. “Greek Cypriots say we can live together, but I can’t trust them. After all, it was their community that started the division in 1963,” he said.
The Greek Cypriot government’s efforts to maintain the isolation of Turkish Cyprus is an indication that the Greek Cypriot side is reluctant to share power, Dolmac? said. “Greek Cypriot embassies abroad have called our cooperation partners in Italy and Romania not to send tourists here. They are trying to cut off our connection to the outside world and prevent us from having an income. I cannot trust a state that is negotiating for a solution but then doing its utmost to keep us isolated.”
Lobby a problem:
Dervi?e Çerkez Güryel is an advocate who calls for a more constructive and sincere approach to the peace talks by the Greek Cypriots on the island and abroad. She would like to see Turkish Cyprus recognized as an independent state. “The reason why I do not want to live together with Greek Cypriots is the history from the 1950s to the 1960s, and that the 1974 peace operation has gone down in history as an invasion rather than intervention as it was.”
Güryel said the opening of the border in 2003 revealed also some uncomfortable realities. “We discovered there was still extreme hostility against Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots were blamed for traffic accidents when they obviously were not guilty and a lot of beatings have gone on,” she said.
Güryel, who grew up in the United Kingdom, said the Greek Cypriot lobby overseas is eroding the credibility of the peace talks. “The Greek side needs to be retrained to be able to accept some sort of negotiation. I don’t find the peace talks very sincere.”
