Cyprus-Forum.com

[CBBB]

Thursday, February 24, 2011
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Angry criticism in Turkey against the country’s financial support for northern Cyprus has drawn a reaction from Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu, who told journalists Wednesday that the comments made him “very upset.”

“These arguments make me very upset. We founded this country [Turkish Cyprus] together; we are as Turkish as you are, we are no different than you,” Eroğlu told a group of finance journalists in Istanbul.

Addressing the current debate over relations between Turkey and northern Cyprus, he said some wrong comments are being made by the Turkish public regarding the financing of Turkish Cyprus by the Turkish state.

“There are some arguments such as, ‘Money cut out from the pockets of the poor in Turkey is being sent to northern Cyprus for the Cypriots to use.’ These arguments make us feel very upset. Since the income of Turkish Cyprus is limited, motherland Turkey is giving us this support,” Eroğlu said.

Northern Cyprus’ economic development is hampered by EU-imposed sanctions.

Relations between Turkey and northern Cyprus are not based on money, the Turkish Cypriot leader added.

“Turkey has contributed to Turkish Cyprus’ budget about 850 million Turkish Liras this year, which is equivalent to one third of our budget. About 350 million liras out of this budget goes to the security forces, while 175 million liras went to the investment budget,” he said.

“We use this money from time to time whenever we have a deficit in paying the salaries of the state officers. So I really get upset when bad arguments are made regarding the use of this money in Cyprus,” Eroğlu said, reiterating that Turkish Cypriots are no different from Turks living in Turkey.

“Our national holidays are your national holidays, our religion is your religion, our nation is your nation,” he said. “We are the people who were being sent to Cyprus by the Ottoman Empire. We are proud of our Turkishness. Therefore we are not different than you.”

The current row between Ankara and Turkish Cyprus stems from a demonstration held in late January in the northern part of the divided island, where a group of protesters unfurled banners harshly critical of Turkey’s intervention in its affairs.

According to Eroğlu, the demonstrators were influenced by negative elements.

“There might be some people reacting to Turkey or people coming from Turkey within the Turkish Cypriot society, but such things can happen in Turkey as well. There might be resentments even between a mother and her child, between two siblings. And our relation with Turkey is based on brotherhood,” the Turkish Cypriot leader said.

Addressing the ongoing peace talks with Greek Cyprus, Eroğlu said his counterparts on the other side of the island do not have any intention of reaching an agreement. “Their intention is only to play for time,” he said.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php? ... 2011-02-24

Please note the non-capitalisation of "northern" in the headline.

[SKI-preo]

We founded this country [Turkish Cyprus] together; we are as Turkish as you are, we are no different than you

Yeah but your Great Grand mother was Greek Cypriot Mr Eroglu.

[Kikapu]

If the Turkish Cypriots need to convince the Turks in Turkey that we are the same as with them, it can ONLY mean that we are NOT the same as with them. In fact, the Turks see the TCs as "uncultured peasants".

I had a fight with a Turkish kid in Ankara back in 1964 after arriving from the events of 1963, telling me that Turkey should not help the TCs. He got his butt kicked by me then, and I'm certain he feels the same today as he felt back then, as well as the majority of the Turks in Turkey.

Turkey has already stated that from now on, 50% of all open public jobs needs to be given to the settlers in the "trnc", which means that there is a separation between the TCs and the Turks, or else why would Turkey want to differentiate between the two as to who should get the public jobs. If we were all the same, why would it matter who gets these jobs.?

But if Eroglu wants to insist the fact that the TCs are the same as the Turks in Turkey (which many TCs recent the idea), then Eroglu should also accept to live like the Turks at lower standards than the TCs want for themselves with the money taken out of the pockets of the Turkish poor in Turkey, just so to pay the "fat cats" in the "trnc" for the public workers, in which case, Eroglu should stop brown nosing to the Turks and also stop acting like a beggar. Has he got no pride.?

[humanist]

Basically what he is saying is that he has no intention for unification. Mr Christofias needs to end talks and beging to advocate in the UN the injustice of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, given that the leader of the Turkish Community has admitted he is a Turk just like you

[All4114All]

It clearly shows Mr Eroglu did not get the message January 28th so we will meet again on March 2nd. While trying to defend his own people he is in fact trying to defend Turkey.

“Our national holidays are your national holidays, our religion is your religion, our nation is your nation,” he said. “We are the people who were being sent to Cyprus by the Ottoman Empire. We are proud of our Turkishness. Therefore we are not different than

"Our nation is your nation" what a fool, the T/C are on the streets to defend there rights, independence and jobs but makes such comments. I think Mr Eroglu needs to get a reality check because that is exactly what we are trying to stand up against that ths nation does not become there nation. Mr Eroglu should continue to have a healthy relationship with Turkey but at the same time he needs to listen to his people so we do not become a province of Turkey.

[Piratis]

To have independence you need to have your own separate territory. TCs don't have such thing.

You need to realize that you live in a part of Cyprus which belongs to RoC and which is illegally occupied by Turkish troops.

You can either be dependent on RoC or dependent on Turkey. Independence is not an option for you. So if you choose to be dependent on Turkey then realize that this means (a) consequences for collaborating with Turkey to do something illegal (b) being ruled by Ankara.

[humanist]

pratis

To have independence you need to have your own separate territory. TCs don't have such thing.

You need to realize that you live in a part of Cyprus which belongs to RoC and which is illegally occupied by Turkish troops.

You can either be dependent on RoC or dependent on Turkey. Independence is not an option for you. So if you choose to be dependent on Turkey then realize that this means (a) consequences for collaborating with Turkey to do something illegal (b) being ruled by Ankara.

They just don't get it

I personally think we need to stop negotiations immediately and mass rally for the freedom of Cyprus in the EU and UN forums.

[B25]

Andreas, thats the most sensible thing you have said in a long while.

I noticed your earlier posts were very forgiving, but you kept on getting shat on, so, now, its about time you do the shitting on them.

Good on you.

[Viewpoint]

pratis

To have independence you need to have your own separate territory. TCs don't have such thing.

You need to realize that you live in a part of Cyprus which belongs to RoC and which is illegally occupied by Turkish troops.

You can either be dependent on RoC or dependent on Turkey. Independence is not an option for you. So if you choose to be dependent on Turkey then realize that this means (a) consequences for collaborating with Turkey to do something illegal (b) being ruled by Ankara.

They just don't get it

I personally think we need to stop negotiations immediately and mass rally for the freedom of Cyprus in the EU and UN forums.

When?

[ZoC]

pratis

To have independence you need to have your own separate territory. TCs don't have such thing.

You need to realize that you live in a part of Cyprus which belongs to RoC and which is illegally occupied by Turkish troops.

You can either be dependent on RoC or dependent on Turkey. Independence is not an option for you. So if you choose to be dependent on Turkey then realize that this means (a) consequences for collaborating with Turkey to do something illegal (b) being ruled by Ankara.

They just don't get it

I personally think we need to stop negotiations immediately and mass rally for the freedom of Cyprus in the EU and UN forums.

When?

Err. I'll give u a clue, dumkopf.