|
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 97 13:33:38 CDT In the policies of imperialism and oligarchy, there is no benefit for the peoples of CyprusPress Agency Ozgurluk, 2 October 1997The European Union took the decision to begin negotiations with six countries in 1998, to accept them into full membership. Since Southern Cyprus is one of these six countries and Turkey is not on the agenda, this decision, it seems, disappointed the Turkish oligarchy and government deeply. On the 23rd anniversary of the occupation of Cyprus carried out by former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, he visited the island on July 20 and announced a declaration on partnership with the president of the KKTC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) and this is nothing but a means of showing disappointment. By using the methods of "blackmail" and "threats" on the subject of solving the Cyprus question, they have supposedly showed that, they would not accept things quietly. However, it was not so difficult to guess beforehand how the Cyprus question would develop. Because in 1995 Turkey made a concession in their claim that "The Republic of Cyprus cannot be a member of any organisation, unless both Turkey and Greece are full members of it", a claim which had been central to Turkish policy since 1960, in order to be accepted into the Customs Union and to pass over the barrier put up by the Greek veto. Turkey accepted the suggestions of the EU in order to have access to the Customs Union. According to these suggestions, the EU was declaring to Turkey that "Before a solution to the Cyprus question, the acceptance of Cyprus into EU membership will be denied, but the negotiations for full membership will be started before the end of 1998." This was actually accepting that Southern Cyprus represented the whole island, because the European Parliament does not recognise the administration of the KKTC and sees Southern Cyprus as the representative of Cyprus. Consequently, the Ciller-Karayalcin government of that time, which accepted the suggestion of "beginning of membership negotiations with Cyprus", knew that negotiations would be carried out with the administration of Southern Cyprus. That is, when they accepted this, they could easily see the oncoming situation and they were making concessions deliberately. Because; Firstly, it was inevitable to make concessions to imperialism to gain access to the Customs Union. Also, then the oligarchy was hoping the EU door would be left ajar, for the full membership of Turkey to be accepted to the Customs Union would make things easier. There were even great hopes for full membership in the very near future. Secondly, in domestic politics, the government, especially Ciller, needed to do "successful" work. It was a great opportunity for them to be accepted to the Customs Union, to stop the government becoming worn-out and to regain the support of people. That is why, the "solution" of offers by imperialism was accepted. But now, since they have realised that it is impossible to be accepted into the EU in the near future, they are trying to use the Cyprus question as blackmail to show popular opinion that they are working on the matter and forcing the EU, once again to come to terms with Turkey. NEITHER THE ANNEXATION OF KKTC BY TURKEY, NOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE GREEK PART OF CYPRUS INTO THE EU IS A SOLUTION FOR THE PEOPLES OF CYPRUS Neither Turkey nor Greece - both of whom see themselves in a position of primacy as far as imperialism and the solution for the Cyprus question is concerned - accept a solution which flouts their interests. Neither of them supports an independent Cyprus where Turkish and Greek people live in peace and brotherhood and find solutions together to their own problems. Imperialism wants to prevent the formula of an independent Cyprus which could be established by the demands of the peoples of the island, by joining the EU instead. The most important issue for imperialism is to keep Cyprus dependent on imperialism. Secondly, by accepting the Greek part of Cyprus into the EU and avoiding the KKTC in the beginning, imperialism will be in a position where it can be more effective and has more control on the solution of the Cyprus question. The initiation of the negotiations with the Greek part will affect the Turkish counterpart, and according to the calculations of imperialism, the Turkish people having great economic problems, will force a "solution" in order not to be excluded from the unification of Europe. As a matter of fact, the declaration revealed by Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Bulent Ecevit, who went to the island on July 20, and the president of the KKTC, Rauf Denktas, did not create a positive impact on the Turkish people of Cyprus either. The leader of the Republican Turkish Party, Mehmet Ali Talat stated that, "an autonomy agreement between Turkey and KKTC will not serve the interests of Turkish people in Cyprus." A similar statement was made by the leader of the Socialist (Popular) Liberation Party, Mustafa Akinci, saying; "political annexation is not suitable for the interests of the Turkish people of Cyprus." Thirdly, the solution to the Cyprus question and the EU membership problem of Turkey became inseparable. By not including Turkey in the list of candidate countries for EU membership and by making the decision to initiate negotiations with the Greek part, imperialism, specifically, imperialism in Europe, wants to force Turkey to make concessions. The landing of Ecevit to Cyprus on July 20 and his declaration are a very suitable step towards the annexation of KKTC and also includes the blackmail of "if you do not accept me into the EU, I will not make concessions in my Cyprus policy." The PM, Mesut Yilmaz, by saying "Without a solution for the Cyprus question and full membership of Turkey in the EU, the EU membership of Cyprus is out of the question." Stating their blackmail openly. Ecevit, in his speech given in Cyprus, says that, "This sort of game and conspiracy increases the necessity of unifying the KKTC with Turkey. I say unification, not annexation. The KKTC, as an independent state, should live forever. The steps towards unification are possible in the areas of external security, foreign affairs, economic and financial." A very good example of demagogy. What kind of independence for Cyprus is mentioned here? Cyprus has been made dependent to Turkey for years anyway. Which policy of Cyprus could be applied independently? There is none. Turkey is there with its soldiers, tanks and guns. And now unification in the areas of foreign affairs, defence, economy and finance is on the agenda, what remains? The announced declaration has only one meaning; annexation. Whether they will be successful or not, it is the matter of another debate, but the only reality is that there is nothing in it for the interests of the people of Cyprus and there will not be any. As far as it is made real, the people of the island will lose whatever they own so far. The oppression and terror of fascism over the Turkish Cypriots, cruel exploitation, robbery and plundering will be more intensified. The latest developments are the proof of it. Income distribution, when the Greek part is compared with the Turkish counterpart, is unbalanced approximately fourfold against the Turkish people. That is, after the occupation, The Turkish Cypriot people became four times poorer when they are compared with their Greek counterparts. The economy of the KKTC is on the edge of bankruptcy. It only survives with the help of Turkey, the wages of the civil servants can be paid with the money borrowed from Turkey. The intervening of contra-guerrilla mobs and mafia and carrying their dirty businesses to the island is another major problem for Cypriots. As a result, it can be said that, neither the acceptance of the Greek part of Cyprus into EU, nor the "unification" of the KKTC with Turkey is for the interests of the island's people. All these policies are planned for the benefits of imperialism, and the Greek and Turkish ruling classes. The interest of the island's people is to oppose imperialist policies and stop the dirty deals over them. Their interest is in bringing about the departure of imperialism, the Turkish and Greek oligarchy, coming together to solve their own problems, the sovereignty of people and the reconstruction of an independent Cyprus. Any other way to solve the problems will only lead the peoples of Cyprus to slavery. THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY-KKTC COMMON DECLARATION "The KKTC will continue to stand as independent. In foreign affairs, to protect the interests of KKTC, a special relation will be established in between two countries.
Press Agency Ozgurluk |
