"WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE IS UNDER OUR GUARANTEE"

We want you to stay independent. But remember that, if pressure and oppression, leave you with no other alternative, the possibility of and the decision to integrate with Turkey is always yours.
Any provocation or aggression directed against you, from the Aegean to the Mediterranean, will be treated as directed towards us and any provocation or aggression directed against us will likewise be treated as directed towards you.
The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Pangalos, has revealed the secret and evil aspirations of Greece to reduce the Turkish Cypriot people to a “minority”.
The security of the TRNC is the same as the security of Turkey. Any provocation or aggression directed against the TRNC will be treated as directly targeted against Turkey.
The treatment, by the EU, of the Greek Cypriot administration as the representative of the “whole of Cyprus” constitutes the first step towards escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean which can be very dangerous.

(Lefkose) After visiting the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at the Presidential Palace today, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.Ysmail Cem, made a statement to the press in which he directly addressed the Turkish Cypriot people. In the statement he made before returning to Ankara accompanied by the TRNC Ministers who will be participating in the Association Council meeting to be held between the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus tomorrow (Tuesday) under the co-chairmanship of the TRNC Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Mr.Taner Etkin, and the Turkish Minister of State. Mr. ?ükrü Gürel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ysmail Cem, stated the following:

"... Nobody should have any doubt of the fact that whatever military agreement or "defence doctrine" is currently in force between Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration , similar ones effectively exist between us. From the Aegean to the Mediterranean, any provocation or aggression directed against you, is also directed towards us and any provocation or aggression directed against us is also directed towards you. Let this be known to all, whether friends or foes, and let them watch their steps.

With its arms and armaments, air assault field, Russian military experts and S-300s, the Greek Cypriot administration has attempted to threaten not only the TRNC but Turkey as well. The security of the TRNC is directly the same as the security of Turkey. Any threat, provocation or aggression against the existence of the TRNC will be treated as directly targeted against Turkey.

The acceptance by the EU of the Greek Cypriot administration as being competent to negotiate on behalf of the "whole of Cyprus" and its granting of the title of the "Cyprus government" to this administration does not only constitute an open violation of international law and the denial of reality but the first step towards escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean which can be very dangerous. We once again call upon the EU to evaluate its future steps very carefully before it is too late and before the Greek Cypriot administration paves the way towards another war in the island.

What Greece really means by "establishing a federation in Cyprus" has been openly declared by the Greek Foreign Minister, Mr. Pangalos. He has given himself away by revealing the evil and secret aspirations of Greece. On 23 March 1998, Mr. Pangalos has stated exactly the following on the CNN: "We speak of a Federation that will be bi-communal, bi-zonal with a large degree of autonomy for the Turkish community which is a minority."

Now, I call on the whole world, particularly on those who, even if with good intentions, would like to rush the Turkish Cypriots into a federation and; to those who see but could not observe and hear but could not understand: The real intention of Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, as stated by Mr. Pangalos, is to reduce the status of the Turkish Cypriots to that of a defenceless minority. What is tailored for purpose, in the name of a "federation", for the Turkish Cypriots is reducing them to a defenceless minority in a hostile environment. Mr. Pangalos has made a fateful mistake; he has declared what Greece has been keeping secret from the whole world. If only this federation could be established, the UN Security Council resolutions to the effect that "the relationship between the two communities in Cyprus is not that of a majority and minority but that of political equality," would be rendered ineffective. Greece and its collaborator in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot administration, have declared that in their "dream federation", they see the Turkish Cypriot people as a "minority", they will render it to a "minority" and treat it as a "minority".

We have a saying that "the one who takes, cannot just run away."

This statement of Greece, revealing its plans to reduce the Turkish Cypriots to a minority in Cyprus, should alert the ones who are still in indolent indifference. What the Greek-Greek Cypriot front plans to do and will do, is obvious. Under the wise, balanced and courageous leadership of President Denktat, the unified and determined Turkish Cypriots will never walk into these traps which are declared to be aimed at rendering them to a "minority".

There should be no doubt that nobody will have the power to reduce the Turkish Cypriot people to a defenceless minority at the hands of Greece ... even if Greece has the full support of all the Western world...

When you shout from Girne, we hear you from Anamur...

The days that you will, once again, be tested against hardship and agony, are awaiting you. They are not only awaiting you but us as well. We, as your brothers in Motherland Turkey, are by your side. I want you to remember that whatever circumstances and difficulties you face, we will stand by your side. I want you to know that at every stage of your struggle, whatever your need, obligation or decision will be, we are by your side.

We want the TRNC to exist as an independent state. We want you to stay independent. We realize that if you are to establish a federation, it can only be realised with your independent and equal political status. Nevertheless, always be aware of this guarantee: If you are left with no other alternative, if pressure and oppression forces you, you must remember that the possibility of and the decision to integrate with Turkey is always yours. This is your greatest guarantee. Turkey is always and under all circumstances by your side. Just as Turkey has been your guarantee since the 1960s, particularly, on 20 July 1974 and in 1983 when you declared independence, it will always continue to be your guarantee."