February 2000

ISCA discusses the world's policy toward the Greek and Turkish island of Cyprus

To accurately portray the political and social aspirations of the Northern Cypriot government for the American Muslim community and U.S. government officials, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani met with His Eminence President Denktas and Foreign Minister, Tahsin Ertugruloglu in Northern Cyprus this Spring.  Both men, equally eloquent and sensitive to the struggle of their people, expressed deep sorrow over the lack of resolution for the conflict between Turkish and Greek Cyprus.

The Foreign Minister explained that a partnership government of Turks and Greeks had once ruled Cyprus.  In 1960, the republic was established and international treaties were signed and ratified, which solidified the legitimate rights of governance for both peoples. The system created had ensured neither party would dominate, and all rule of law required the approval of both Turkish and Greek-Cypriot political representatives.

However, as the Minister recalled, “ The Greeks were fighting to get the British out and annex Cyprus to Greece.  By 1963, the republic ceased to exist since the Greek Cypriot Government had kicked out the Turkish Cypriot officials who fought to prevent the annexation.  When the international community stepped in to stop the conflict, they referred to the ‘government of Cyprus’.”  Apparently, this historically significant reference to the “government of Cyprus” legitimized Greek rule without the Turkish Cypriots.  It served as a de facto recognition of the Greek Cypriot control over the governance of Cyprus. 

From that day until the present, the Turkish Cypriots have fought for their right to govern the island.  The President and Minister of Northern Cyprus both called on the international community of states, especially those who were signatories to the partnership established in 1960, to intervene in the conflict. Currently, there are proximity talks underway, but progress is slow.  The President explained that without international pressure, the Greeks have no incentive to negotiate since they are the recognized leadership of Cyprus.  They have no incentive to relinquish that control and revert back to the government of 1960.

As it stands now, the government of Northern Cyprus has proposed as a solution that the United Nations acknowledge the political system of Cyprus to be a confederation of two separate sovereign states - one for the North and the other for the Southern Greek territory.  The Greeks have rejected the proposal, but the international community has been responsive. 

When asked what the American Muslim community could do for their brethren in Northern Cyprus, President Dentkas felt they should encourage their US Government representatives to take a more aggressive approach to resolving the conflict in Cyprus.  He believed only the pressure of the Western powers such as the United States and Britain could convince the Greeks to accept the two state system, thereby providing autonomy and peace for both societies.