MURATAGA-SANDALLAR AND ATLILAR MARTRYS REMEMBERED

Remembrance ceremonies were held to mark the 31^st anniversary of the death of women, children and elderly who were brutally killed by Greek Cypriots in the villages of Murataga, Sandallar and Atlilar.

A total of 126 innocent people were killed in the three villages, including 16-day old babies and an 85 year-old. Speaking at the martyr's monument, President Mehmet Ali Talat said there were no words to describe the atrocities carried out against the Turkish Cypriot people.

Indicating that although wars were bad it also had its own rules, President Talat stressed that it was normal for people who were carrying weapons and fighting to be killed during times of war, but when innocent women, young children and the elderly who were not involved in any fighting whatsoever were killed for no reason this was contrary to the rules of war.

Stressing that no matter what anyone else said Turkish Cypriots were now in a different position in the world, the President said in the forthcoming period their efforts would be directed at opening the path for the Turkish Cypriots to explain and prove to the world the atrocities and difficulties they experienced. He added that this should be re-evaluated by the world.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot people had suffered great pain between 1963-1974, President Talat said it was extremely painful that these people had died in circumstances that had nothing to do with war.

Stressing that the majority of the losses were children, women and the elderly, the President said this ratio was well above the normal losses during times of conflict and it was a direct and planned attempt to wipe out the Turkish Cypriots.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side would show and prove to the world the extent of the atrocities carried out against them, President Talat said: "We will open the path for the world to re-evaluate their perspective of the Turkish Cypriot people. From now on our efforts will be in this direction".

Speaking at the ceremony, Turkish Cypriot Huseyin Nazim Aslanturk who lost his 4-year old child and 25 of his close family members criticised the EU for taking in the Greek Cypriots under the roof of the 'Republic of Cyprus' and the whole world for remaining silent to these atrocities.

Pointing out that as a result of the Second Phase of the Turkish Peace Operation, Turkish Cypriots had been living freely for the last 31 years, Aslanturk said: "We'll live freely as well after this".

 

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: "WE BELIEVE THAT THE STEPS TAKEN TO DEMINE THE ISLAND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING A SECURE ENVIRONMENT AND REACHING A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT"

On 12 August 2005, the TRNC Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the joint cooperation carried out by the Turkish Cypriot Security Forces Commandorate and the United Nations to demine the buffer zone.

The statement said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believed that the steps taken to demine the island would contribute to creating a secure environment and reaching a comprehensive settlement.

The full text of the statement is as follows:

" The negotiations, held between our authorities and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), concerning the clearing of mines in the buffer zone in Lefkoşa and its vicinity have been concluded successfully and an agreement was signed on 5 August. The agreement shall enter into force as of today following the opening ceremony. As it is well known, the issue of demining along the Green Line was brought to the agenda on 24 July 2003 with the initiative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The TRNC considers the beginning of demining activities as a welcomed result of the efforts spent towards reaching an agreement on this issue. The fact that the work on this issue did not commence earlier is the result of circumstances beyond the control of the Turkish Cypriot side. To be able to start and conclude these activities before would naturally have been preferable.

The Turkish Cypriot side is determined to advance the cooperation between itself and the UN and UNFICYP. We believe that the steps taken towards the clearing of the mines will contribute to the creation of an environment of confidence as well as to the search for a comprehensive settlement on the Island.

In line with the agreement reached, the demining process will be carried out by expert institutions which will be determined by the Partnership for Future Programme. Within this context, we welcome the efforts of the UN as well as the contributions of the European Union which will provide the financing for the work of the UN Development Programme/Partnership for Future Programme".

 

GREEK CYPRIOT PLANE CRASHES

A Greek Cypriot plane belonging to Helios Airways with all 121 passengers on board crashed 110 kilometres from the Greek capital of Athens and there were no survivors.

In its condolence message sent to the Greek Cypriot side, the TRNC Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry for Foreign Affairs said the Turkish Cypriot people were deeply saddened by yesterday's (14 August) plane crash and the death of all its passengers and expressed their condolences to the Greek Cypriot people for their loss.

Meanwhile, President Talat and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas also sent separate condolence messages to Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos.

 

4 COACHES BRINGING TOURISTS TO TRNC BURNT IN SOUTH CYPRUS

On 11 August 2005, 4 coaches bringing tourists from the Greek Cypriot side to the TRNC were burnt while parked.

According to the Greek Cypriot press the coaches belonged to three companies who organised daily tours from Ayia Napa to Kyrenia and molotov cocktails were used to burn the coaches.

The Greek Cypriot press said the coaches were burnt for political reasons and Greek Cypriot police believed it was highly possible that the attacks were carried out by those people who were against daily trips being organised to the TRNC.