Minister of the Interior for North Cyprus, Ozkan Murat arrived in the UK this week to meet members of the Turkish Cypriot community in North London, where he spoke from the heart.

IMPORTANT STEP

In an affectionate speech he gave before heading back to Cyprus, the Minister said: “Half of the Turkish Cypriots in the world live in Cyprus and the other half in the UK, therefore half our heart is in the UK.” Commenting on the recent decision of the German Parliament to work towards ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus, the Minister said: “We cannot say we are victorious, isolation continues, but the decision of the German Parliament is an important step forward.”  , As far the impact of the decision is concerned, the Minister asserted that the decision will have a “positive effect on the economic, cultural and educational isolation on Northern Cyprus.”

NON-STOP EFFORTS

However, cautious of the speed at which Germany will act, the Minister said: “Germany who holds the current presidency of the EU took this initiative but we know that within the EU decisions take time to emerge.” In a message intended for British Turkish Cypriots, the Minister continued that in order to maintain this momentum, “efforts should be non-stop beside a good political movement.”  He added: “you cannot make politics by criticism alone, politics is an ongoing process and we should use the diplomatic opportunity when it arises.”

NOT A SOLUTION

As far as a solution is concerned, “(the decision) should be accepted as an important step, but not as a solution,” he said. “A final solution should be under the umbrella of the UN,” he continued. But condemning the way the Republic of Cyprus was violently taken over by the Greek Cypriots, the Minister stressed the importance of “political equality,” which he described as a “never-ending policy” of the Turkish Cypriot community. The Minister “The Greek Cypriots took over this state, but we cannot let them treat us as a minority, if they behave in this way, then they will walk the road ahead alone,” he added.