Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (11.03.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has alleged that the biggest security for the Turkish Cypriots is their “state”, which is an “expression of sovereignty, freedom and safety”. Eroglu addressed yesterday the opening ceremony of the “5th National Education Council” which started in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
Eroglu said that the national policies on education should be updated according to the developing and changing conditions in the country and the world.
Referring to the Cyprus problem he reiterated the view that this is a “national cause” and added, inter alia, the following: “If we want to live freely as Turkish Cypriot people on these lands, if we want to administrate ourselves, we must know our recent history well…We must be proud of our history, of the struggle given by the generations before us and of what we have done together with motherland Turkey… Let no one worry about the future. We have our state which is your creation, the creation of our people…We must be aware of the fact that living freely and sovereignly on these lands could only be possible by correctly establishing our educational policies…”
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (11.03.14) refers to the same issue and reports that during Eroglu’s address, representatives of trade unions of the employees in education (KTOEOS, KTOS and DAU-SEN) raised a placards saying “We do not want an education enemy to peace”.
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (11.03.14), Eroglu argued that if the Greek Cypriot side wants a solution “the material is on the table”. He went on and alleged, inter alia, the following: “…If they do not want, if they pursue a delay and if they have the intention to use the natural gas and the EU membership as trump card and think that ‘when the day comes Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots will be cornered and we will benefit’, it will not be possible for us to reach anywhere… I wish that this time things are different and our Greek Cypriot friends will pave the way for peace and agreement with reasonable and rational proposals by taking into consideration the existing realities in Cyprus, and we will reach a result. The important thing is the will. The sides know each other’s views well…
We asked for our negotiators to meet twice a week and the leaders every 15 days, but our interlocutors did not accept this. Surely they are not in a hurry. I wonder, are they waiting for something else? We do not know… Starting the give and take does not depend on us, but we are ready…
If our Greek Cypriot neighbours stay committed to the text of the ‘Joint Declaration’ without distorting it, without diversions, our job will be easier and this text will be turned into an instrument. Otherwise, the Turks of Cyprus might be forced to take new decisions…
It is known which political views I and Mr Anastasiades represent. When this is taken into consideration, it will not be possible not to agree with those who make interpretations such as that the signing of an agreement between Mr Anastasiades and me will give the feeling and the confidence that a lasting and viable peace has been secured and the ‘yes’ votes of the two peoples in the referenda will be increased…”
