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$Unique_ID{COW01048}
$Pretitle{222}
$Title{Cyprus
Economic integration of the occupied part of Cyprus with Turkey}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC}
$Subject{turkish
turkey
protocol
economic
cypriot
area
occupied
trnc
cyprus
government}
$Date{1988}
$Log{}
Country: Cyprus
Book: Cyprus, Torn Apart by Warring Factions
Author: Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC
Affiliation: Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC
Date: 1988
Economic integration of the occupied part of Cyprus with Turkey
The economic integration of the occupied area of Cyprus with Turkey which
began soon after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 has been made official
with the economic "protocol" signed between Turkey and the "TRNC" to
enforce Turkish Prime Minister, Ozal's economic suggestions for the occupied
area.
It is interesting to note that Eroglu, the present "Prime Minister" of
the "TRNC" in November 1983, said that his party (the NUP founded by
Denktash in 1976) aimed at "integration with Turkey on all levels". It is
obvious from reactions appearing in the press both to the "protocol" and to
the ever increasing attachment to Turkey, that this is by no means the primary
aim of the Turkish Cypriot community. Although it may appear prima facie that
the "protocol" envisages integration only on the economic level, it is
blatantly obvious to all that what in reality it means is the subjugation of
the "TRNC" to Turkey on all levels. That is why the vast majority in the
Turkish Cypriot community and all parties (except the NUP which applauded it
and the settlers' New Birth Party (NBP) which remained passive) reacted so
strongly against it.
The "protocol" was simply the formalization of the agreement Turgut
Ozal made with the Turkish Cypriot "government" last July; and both that
agreement and Ozal's visit to the occupied area had raised a storm of protests
to the extent of bringing down the "government". A coalition between the
NUP and the Turkish settlers' party the NBP, had to be hastily formed which
promptly agreed to implement the economic agreement.
The previous coalition partner of the NUP, Mr Bozkurt's Communal
Liberation Party (centre-right) objected so strongly to the application of
Ozal's economic package that it saw no other alternative but to withdraw from
the "government". The main opposition party, Mr. Ozgur's Republican Turkish
Party (RTP, left) called for early "elections". No "elections" were held.
Instead, obviously with the Turkish Government's blessings, a new coalition
was formed. The new partner presented no problem as far as economic
subjugation to Turkey was concerned, but that is not of course the only
significant thing. Turkey now openly runs the show.
The NBP is the party of imported Turkish settlers who were brought to the
occupied area of Cyprus as voting force for the reactionary Denktash faction
and as perpetrators of the Turkish expansionist policies on Cyprus. These
people have nothing in common with the Turkish Cypriot population who are
realising with bitterness and disappointment that they no longer have a real
say in the running of the occupied area and that their votes no longer truly
count.
Only the day before the announcement of the new coalition, Zeki Erkut in
an article in the Turkish Cypriot daily YENIDUZEN (1.9.86), referring to a
statement by Besesler that he wanted to be a partner in the "government" to
serve the grass roots of his party, characteristically says:
"Who are your grass roots? To whom are your grass roots mortgaged?
Who has turned you into a party? From whom do you get support and strength?".
The clear accusation here is that the NBP is not a party of Turkish
Cypriots and Erkut makes this even clearer by saying that the "bargaining"
between the two parties for the formation of a coalition was a sham, as the
last word was spoken by Ankara in the form of "either you apply this economic
package which I have imposed on you or find governments which will apply it".
This "government" has been found, says Erkut, and adds: "Dervis Bey has
taken directives during his Ankara visit, whereas Besesler is not in a
position to express views or bargain. He is one who has to obey orders."
Finally, the NBP which will negatively affect the fate of the Turkish Cypriot
community are setting up a government. But is it not necessary to ask:
"In whose name are you forming this government? How can a government,
formed with the authorisation of Ankara, represent the Turkish Cypriot
community and govern it?
If your government is set up who will you serve? Your grass roots? That
is, one of you the exploiters and the others the imported voters?"
Much earlier, RTP leader Ozgur (YENIDUZEN 7.7.86) referring to Ozal's
economic package and a possible NUP-NBP coalition said:
"Anyone listening to Ozal would think him a Sultan who has very
recently ascended on his father's throne" and added:
"To try and change the economic structure of Cyprus by bringing
together the controlled NBP with the NUP would mean direct intervention in
the democratic life (whatever of it exists) in Cyprus".
There is no shortage of such comments. Reaction to both the package and
the coalition was so widespread as to be virtually unanimous. The Turkish
Cypriot community both realises that it is being gradually subjugated to
Turkey in every way and on every level and objects. We shall not cite all the
numerous articles in the Turkish Cypriot press to this effect. Suffice it to
say that Arif Hasan Tahsin in SOZ (29.8.86) once again says that the Turkish
Cypriots are being exploited by the settlers and the Denktash regime which
they prop up and that, if the truth were known, the Turkish Cypriots "never
voted for the NUP".
Tahsin in the same article says that an NUP-NBP coalition would still be
a minority "government" as they only account for 45.5% of the votes while
the percentage of votes in the opposition is 54.5%. Mr. Tahsin concludes:
"With the NBP, will not the monopoly of the Turkish Cypriot administration,
through votes brought in from Turkey be exposed before world public opinion in
a very obvious way?...Is there anyone who does not know that the NBP's founder
is the Turkish Ambassador?.
Will an NUP-NBP coalition not mean that the Turkish government has officially
laid hands on the north Cyprus Republic?
Will Mr. Denktash be able to face this situation at the UN? Let us put aside
UN reaction. What about the reaction of the Turkish Cypriots? Or will all the
Turkish Cypriots be declared `traitors' in the face of such a situation?"
How could it be put more clearly? The upshot of the matter is Turkey
controls the so-called "TRNC" in every way, and the final aim is annexation.
Illegal "Bayrak" radio station (3.9.86) expounding on the new coalition's
foreign policy says that the new "government" believes that the Turkish
Cypriots are an indivisible part of the Turkish nation and declares that
relations with Turkey will be developed as a matter of priority, and that
"everything will be done toward unification with Turkey on every issue".
According to the same principles, says "Bayrak", the coalition will
act within Ataturk's principles, in total attachment to Turkey and will always
fight with faith and determination against any type of action which will
weaken the ties with Turkey.
So, it would appear, Turkey now controls the play in the "TRNC" not
from the wings but from the stage and it is not surprising that the Turkish
Cypriot community was, and is, up in arms about Ozal's visit, his economic
package and the political changes it brought to the occupied area.
A characteristic reaction by Ozker Ozgur, published in YENIDUZEN
(10.7.86) was that Denktash in this matter as in all saw himself as the
"elected governor of north Cyprus and not the president of the Turkish
Cypriots". As long as this happened the Turkish Cypriots would not be able
to develop an i