WHEN I
SAY IT!
(Publication
Date: April 2, 2007)
When I say it, they call me c...
Sir, we need to look at the matter from many different angles.
It’s needed, but try explaining it…
***
The other day, under the heading “silly ideas,” I made a few suggestions that were actually not silly at all, and that seemed logical the more I thought about them.
You can follow this article and my earlier ones on my website.
Anyway, let’s put that article aside.
In his speech at the opening of the “Summit of Turkish-Origin Members of Parliament in Europe on Northern Cyprus,” our Prime Minister said: “The existence of the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ is invalid; this republic is a republic seized and occupied, a sultanate founded on the supremacy of one people.”
It is a correct and appropriate statement; but is there nothing we can do to explain this to the world?
Now you’ll say: “Well, things are being done… Just look: statements, meetings and summits are held at every opportunity. The foreign minister is never in the country! He travels all over the world, telling people that we are in the right. Don’t you see?”
All right, I see, and I follow it with interest; but I can’t help asking questions of my own!
Are the Turkish-origin members of parliament in Europe really so unfamiliar with the Cyprus issue that the Prime Minister feels the need to remind them that the existence of the Republic of Cyprus is invalid?
If they are that unfamiliar with it, what will change once they learn these things?
Why have the Turkish-origin members of parliament in Europe done nothing about Cyprus so far, or been unable to do anything?
If they can’t, what is the point of the summit?
Our Foreign Minister has forgotten the way to our country! Mr. Avcı says after every visit that his meetings went very well. Has anyone among you seen or heard the positive impact of these meetings, or at least felt it emotionally?
Shouldn’t the Foreign Minister also have been at the summit with the Turkish-origin members of parliament in Europe? Or is there a lack of coordination between the Prime Minister’s Office and the Foreign Ministry?
Have our Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister agreed on the contacts to be made concerning Cyprus? Or has a roadmap been drawn up on this matter? Something along the lines of, “You do this, I’ll do that,” and so on.
Don’t get me wrong: I, too, think the summit held the other day will be useful; but questions like these do occupy my mind!
Meanwhile, after hearing what the Prime Minister said to the Turkish-origin members of parliament in Europe, I thought of the idea I mentioned the other day!
I don’t know how those who shape politics will view this idea, but I’m very serious about it…
Our Prime Minister says that the Republic of Cyprus is invalid, occupied and seized.
So, can’t we explain this to Europeans not with words, but through action?
How?
What would happen if one of today’s politicians stood up and said, “I’ve shut all the crossing points, brother; now you’re left with no way through”? What would tourists who can’t enter our country, but think they are within the borders of the European Union, think if they couldn’t get through these crossings? Wouldn’t they say to the Greek Cypriots, “Hey, wasn’t this place under your control? Look, we can’t get into territory that’s within the EU borders. Sort this out!” Would the Greek Cypriots tell us, “Come on, open these crossings; we’ve been fooling these guys for years, so don’t spoil the game now”? Even if they did, who would give a damn about the Greek Cypriots? Given all this, why are we doing them a favor?
When I say it, they call me c...
Let them! If it opens the way for different approaches, it doesn’t matter much!
In other words, we can do something here without traveling around the world or waiting for the EU or the US to do something to achieve a solution.
Remember, problems are solved at the center.
And we can solve this problem right here in Cyprus!
Instead of telling the world that the Republic of Cyprus is under Greek Cypriot occupation and has been seized by them, we can make radical decisions that will bring this about. We can use these radical decisions to prove the lie that the Greek Cypriots have been telling the world for years: “That area is under my control.”
I’m not saying that the crossings must
necessarily be closed. What I mean is that, of our own free will, we should take radical decisions that will attract the world’s attention, are not adventurist, and will produce results…
All that is needed is the will to make those radical decisions and the necessary coordination across all branches of the state!
As I said just now, in my opinion, if we want this problem to be solved, the solution is not in the EU, the US or anywhere like that!
The solution is here in Cyprus.
The solution is in our hands…
If we play our cards right, believe me, we can resolve this matter very easily…
See you on Wednesday… Be respectful in traffic!
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