Cicek urges Greek Cypriots to seize opportunity to solve Cyprus issue

The current window of opportunity for resolving the decades-old Cyprus issue cannot remain open forever, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday, warning further that Ankara will not give up its rights as a guarantor country of the divided island. Speaking at an official ceremony in Lefkosa, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), marking the 35th anniversary of Turkey's 1974 Peace Operation on Cyprus, which is celebrated as July 20 Peace and Freedom Day by Turkish Cypriots, Cicek said the Cyprus peace talks can't go on indefinitely and the current window of opportunity won't stay open forever, adding that a comprehensive solution could be reached this year. "Turkey has always taken a position in favor of resolving the Cyprus problem," he explained. "That's why, as the motherland and guarantor country, we are assuming a resolution-oriented policy together with the TRNC. Nonetheless, nobody should make the mistake of supposing that the Turkish sides may sacrifice their indispensable rights due to this policy." He said this in an apparent response to the Greek Cypriot side asserting that the continuation of Turkey's security guarantees and the Turkish military presence on the island would be unacceptable under a peace agreement. "We believe that it is possible to reach a comprehensive resolution by the end of 2009 if all the related parties act with a constructive understanding, like the Turkish Cypriot side does," Cicek said. "Reaching the goal of a comprehensive resolution is in the best interest of all parties, without exception," he added, stressing that the issue should not be linked to Turkey's European Union membership bid. "Turkey will never be in a dilemma of 'either Cyprus of the EU'." Cicek also reiterated that any solution should be a bi-communal partnership based on UN parameters, including political equality and two founder states. "Turkey's active and actual guarantor status will go on," he said. Cicek also stated that the isolation of Turkish Cypriots should be ended as soon as possible and urged EU leaders to keep their word given right after the twin 2004 referendums. Gaining independence from Britain in 1960, Cyprus became a bi-communal republic where Greek and Turkish Cypriot constituent communities were to share power guaranteed by Britain, 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 terrorized and ghettoized them. An Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island that culminated in armed attacks on the defenseless Turkish Cypriots led to Turkey's 1974 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 no longer exists, Greek Cypriots continue to enjoy this title and international recognition, while the TRNC, a fully democratic government representing Turkish Cypriots, still suffers.