Leaders’ spat,
A PUBLIC spat broke out between the two leaders of Cyprus after Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades accused the Turkish Cypriot side of acting in an “arrogant” manner “with a vision for a new Ottoman Empire” during his Orthodox Easter television address.
The remarks drew the ire of TRNC President Ersin Tatar who, before Mr Anastasiades’s comments, had issued a message conveying his “most sincere and good wishes” for Orthodox Easter which he said “is one of the holiest periods of the Orthodox faith being celebrated by our Greek Cypriot neighbours and the Orthodox world”.
“This holy season coincides with the last period of the Islamic month of Holy Ramadan this year and I wish that it brings with it peace, blessings and prosperity for all mankind,” Mr Tatar’s message also said.
But Greek Cypriot reports later quoted Mr Anastasiades as accusing – in apparent reference to the failure to find “common ground” in Geneva at an informal meeting between the sides – Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots of “trying to rewrite international law” by ignoring UN resolutions and EU policy.
Mr Anastasiades went further, stating: “In defiance of the UN Charter, UN resolutions and decisions, in defiance of the EU, they [Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots] asked the UN Secretary-General to become an accomplice to their own illegal actions, claiming recognition of the sovereignty of the subordinate of Turkey.”
He claimed the Turkish side had acted with the “arrogance of those who envision a new Ottoman empire”.
President Tatar hit back with a statement that said Mr Anastasiades had “spewed” up his “anger and grudge, even in a religious message,” adding: “Our proposal, which we put on the negotiating table [at Geneva], is for the benefit of Cyprus and the region and is the most realistic solution.”
He continued: “Anastasiades revealed his anachronistic and domineering mentality by making a call to the Turkish Cypriot people and showed the arrogance of insulting our people by calling them his ‘citizens’.
“The world and Anastasiades should know that the Turkish Cypriot people are not a minority community of the Greek Cypriot side. Turkish Cypriot people are citizens of the free and sovereign TRNC.
“Whilst Anastasiades evaluated my proposal based on the cooperation of two sovereign States in Geneva as ‘an arrogance of those who dream of a new Ottoman empire’, my answer to Anastasiades is to look in the mirror and see who the arrogant person is.
“We are proud to be Turks, the children and grandchildren of the Ottomans who conquered Cyprus in 1571 and made it a Turkish homeland.
“My proposal based on the cooperation of the two equal sovereign States, which I brought to the negotiating table, is the will of the majority of the Turkish Cypriot people and is also supported by Turkey, the largest and most powerful country in the region.”
President Tatar added: “In pursuance of an empty dream that will never be realised, Anastasiades also said in his message that the solution model to be found should include the removal of guarantees and the removal of Turkish soldiers from Cyprus.
“The active and effective guarantee of Turkey and the presence of the Turkish army in Cyprus are our red lines and it is not possible for us to give them up.”
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Mr Anastasiades questioned Mr Tatar’s use of the word “citizens” in his statement.
“I would like to ask him: should 97,000 Turkish Cypriots, holders of the Cypriot ID card and the Cypriot passport and who enjoy all that Cypriot European citizens do, be ashamed?
“One of the arguments [the Turkish Cypriots] developed during the Geneva summit was that they are co-founders of the Republic of Cyprus.
“On the other hand, [Mr Tatar] considered that I insulted the Turkish Cypriots because I called them my compatriots.”
Meanwhile Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar slammed Greece and South Cyprus for raising tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
“Unfortunately, from the Greek side, there are always challenges, escalation of crises, disrespect for international law and rhetoric of threats,” he said during a visit to a Turkish military base in Libya.
“On the other hand, we declare that we will not allow our rights to be violated in any way, no matter how many provocations you want to make and no matter how many Navtexes [navigational telexes] you publish.”