AZERBAIJANI MPS VISIT
TRNC
Within the framework of 20th
July Peace and Freedom Day celebrations 8 MPs from Azerbaijan came to TRNC
on 17 July 2005.
Azerbaijani MP Hadi Recepli speaking at
Ataturk Airport stated that it was the first time such a big delegation
from Azerbaijan Parliament visited the TRNC and this visit was important
for them.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip
Erdogan expressing his pleasure for this visit thanked to Azerbaijani MPs.
Prime Minister Erdogan said: "The
decision taken during OIC meeting in the Yemen is an important decision
and it is meaningful that they recognized the TRNC as ‘Cyprus Turkish
State’ with an observer member status and treated the TRNC Minister for
Foreign Affairs accordingly. Furthermore, the OIC member states took a
decision towards lifting the isolations and openly declared this."
31ST
ANNIVERSARY OF PEACE AND FREEDOM
The 31st anniversary of 20th
July Happy Peace Operation will be celebrated with ceremonies throughout
the TRNC. Official ceremonies marking the Peace and Freedom Day which is
celebrated in memory of Turkey’s Peace Operation on 20 July 1974, carried
out in accordance with her guarantor rights stemming from the Treaty of
Guarantee and Alliance, will start on 19 July.
During the ceremonies which will be
participated by Turkish state and government officials and military staff,
Turkey will be represented with a delegation headed by Turkish Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Deputy Prime Minister
and State Minister Abdullatif Þener.
Besides Turkey and Turkic states, this
year the TRNC will also host guests from various European countries.
Besides ceremonies in Lefkoþa,
Gazimaðusa, Girne, Güzelyurt, Ýskele and Lefke different activities such
as exhibitions, concerts and football matches of parliament teams will
take place.
Delegations from 33 countries consisted
of politicians, academicians businessmen and mainly press members, during
their visit in the TRNC will participate to activities, and hold official
contacts and investigations. The delegations will leave the island on 21
July.
USA: "US CONGRESS MEMBERS’ VISIT TO TRNC VIA TURKEY IS
LEGAL"
USA State Department stated that the
visit of three US congress members to TRNC via Turkey was legal and
rejected the Greek Cypriot lobby’s allegations that it was illegal.
USA State Ministry Spokesman Sean
McCormack responded to questions regarding the protest letter, addressed
to the US State Department, Michael Bilirakis who is one of the leaders of
the Greek Cypriot Lobby. McCormack stating that he was aware of such a
letter said, the relevant response would be given to the congress member
in question and that with this visit neither the US laws nor the
international laws was violated.
CLERIDES: " IF THERE WAS
NO GREEK COUP D’ETAT TURKEY WOULD NEVER INTERVENE IN CYPRUS"
Former Greek Cypriot Leader Glafcos
Clerides pointing out that the Greek Cypriot administration had lost many
opportunities and made big mistakes in the past said if there was no Greek
Coup D’etat Turkey would never intervene in Cyprus.
Greek Cypriot daily Alithia published
Clerides’ interview given to Greek daily ELEFTEROTÝPÝA. According to daily,
Clerides responding to the question whether Cyprus would be in a better
condition if federation was accepted during negotiations in Geneva said:
“If I said yes this would have no meaning . Makarios’ view was not to
accept a federation based on geography. Furthermore, Yorgo Mavros
representing Greece was against a geographical federation. Karamanlis was
supporting this but could not take this responsibility alone."
Responding to question whether a worse
situation could be prevented if Makarios had accepted a geographical
federation in 1974, Clerides said "Yes, a conciliation was necessary in
order to prevent a worse situation. The mistake was that we did not make a
correct evaluation of what would have happened is we had said no."
Responding to question whether there
were lost opportunities in the Cyprus issue Clerides said " the expression
lost opportunities might be wrong. From time to time, some initiatives
were made and if we could positively responded to these we could have
achieved the settlement of the Cyprus issue."
Question "What were the tragic mistakes"
Response: "Our problem is to take
decisions and support views exceeding our power. Other mistake is not to
take lessons from our mistakes. For the period 1960-74 we made the
following big mistakes as the leadership: we wanted to violate agreements
a at a period when there were no international support. Our alliance with
Non-aligned and Warsaw Pact countries were fruitless. We could not
correctly evaluate the Greece’s Helen Policy that Greece was not at the
level of a face-to-face conflict with Turkey and we did not have the
necessary capability to protect Cyprus if Turkey had used its intervention
right . When we look today’s situation we made a mistake in 1973 by not
conciliating. The biggest mistake was the coup d’etat in 1974. This
resulted with Turkeys attack. If there were no Greek coup d’etat, Turkey
would never intervene. We Could prevent the second intervention by
accepting the federation however, we did not have the political courage to
decide this."
