Cicek: “The solution in Cyprus should be constructed on two separate states, two separate democracies”
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (12.07.12) reports that Cemil Cicek, Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), has alleged that two equal peoples exist in Cyprus, that the Turkish Cypriots are not a minority and that the sooner this “reality” is accepted, an important step towards peace will be taken. In statements yesterday made during a meeting with the self-styled ambassador of the breakaway regime to Ankara, Mustafa Lakatamyali and terrorist TMT organization’s “fighters’’ association, Cicek congratulated them for the “20 July feast”, as he called the day of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, and reiterated the Turkish views that the invasion brought peace to Cyprus and that the Cyprus problem is Turkey’s national cause.

Cicek alleged that in spite of Turkey’s efforts no result came out from the Cyprus negotiations “because of the stance of the Greek Cypriots and those who support them”. He claimed that Turkey wants peace, but not at any cost. He said they want a peace, which will entail “very well established balances” and will “make returning to the pre-1974 period impossible”.

Cicek alleged the following: “Two equal peoples exist there. The Turks are not minority there. The soonest this reality is accepted an important step for peace will be taken. Two separate states, two separate democracies exist there. What will happen in the first place, will be constructed on these foundations? It is impossible without accepting this. A matter which will never be abandoned is Turkey’s guarantees. Turkey cannot abandon its guarantees. We do not want our brothers there to experience the conditions of the pre-1974 period again. We continue negotiating under these conditions. We continue the negotiations. If there is peace on the conditions we say, this will be for everyone’s benefit, but it seems that this will not happen from the one day to the other. Especially during the EU term presidency these negotiations came to a standstill. Either there is peace or not, let us look after our own job. We have to exert efforts, which will secure that our state there becomes stronger, and our brothers live in happiness and prosperity. We cannot establish peace by ourselves, but we can create a democracy which works well there, a state which works well and a community which lives happily”.

Cicek said that they should develop policies which will eliminate the difference which exists between the government-controlled and the occupied area of Cyprus and added that transferring energy from Turkey to the occupied area of the island is extremely important.