‘Turkey wants to be thanked for its illegalities’

INSTEAD of reacting in a negative and provocative manner over comments by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Turkey should implement United Nations resolutions and European Union decisions on Cyprus, the government said yesterday.

“Turkey does not like to be reminded of the illegalities it has been carried out in Cyprus since 1974 with the invasion, occupation, colonisation, violation of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, the human rights and basic freedoms of Cypriots,” government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said.

He said Turkey is used to commit offences and then demand to be thanked for them.

“Instead of reacting in this negative and provocative manner when what she should do is pointed out, Turkey should implement the UN resolutions and EU decisions regarding the Cyprus problem and not seek a lifejacket in 2004,” Stefanou said, referring to the referenda in which Greek Cypriots rejected a UN reunification plan while Turkish Cypriots approved it.

Turkey was irked by comments made by Merkel during a brief visit to Cyprus earlier this week and wants apology.

The German Chancellor assured Christofias of Germany’s support to efforts for a Cyprus settlement and commended his efforts to create momentum in the ongoing UN-led direct negotiations.

“We particularly appreciate your courage, the creativity which you show,” Merkel said in the announcement, adding that unfortunately so far there has been no response to this readiness for compromise.

Merkel underlined that Germany supports UN efforts, adding the country will make it known to Turkey during talks with officials in the future that there needs to be progress in the process.

Turkish Premier RecepTayyip Erdogan said “Merkel’s statements not only hurt but they also reflect a lack of historical knowledge and contradict statements she has made in the past. Merkel showed how unfamiliar she is with the Cyprus dispute.”

Erdogan recommended Merkel read a book by her predecessor, former Chancellor Gerhard Schroder covering Cyprus’ EU accession which “demonstrates how immoral the behaviours of the time were”.

He also suggested the EU and UN were preventing former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s report on the 2004 referenda from being made public to protect the Greek Cypriots. Turkey would not give away a single inch of northern Cyprus, he said.

Stefanou said Turkey should help herself by doing what the international community is asking and what international legality prescribed.

“Turkey should harmonise its declarations for a solution with action; soon,” Stefanou said

via ‘Turkey wants to be thanked for its illegalities’ – Cyprus Mail.