Former Turkish Ambassador in Cyprus unmasks Denktash and reveals the plot
The former Turkish Ambassador in Cyprus Mr. Emin Dirvana, has accused the extremist Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Rauf Denktash, of being solely interested in provoking disputes with the Greeks instead of concentrating on his work as President of the Turkish Cypriot Communal Chamber.
Mr. Dirvana, who was the first Turkish Ambassador after the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960, published a letter in the Istanbul daily 'Milliyet', replying to attacks made on him by Denktash in a previous article.
In this letter, Mr. Dirvana says that during the time he was Ambassador in Nicosia, there was no discrimination against the Turkish Cypriots. None of them was shot and no Turkish home was damaged or burnt. He himself as Turkey's Ambassador, was treated with respect and deference by President Makarios.
Mr. Dirvana points out that, as head of the Turkish Cypriot Communal Chamber, Denktash's main duty was to ensure the economic and social development of the Turkish community, the development of schools, social and cultural organizations and cooperative societies.
The Trust Fund of one-and-a-half million pounds sterling provided as a start grant by the British government and the considerable economic aid given by the Turkish government every year, were also under the control and responsibility of the Turkish Communal Chamber of which he was the leader.
But despite all efforts by Turkish Embassy officials, Denktash refused to concentrate on these subjects, his sole concern being to provoke disputes with the Greeks.
Mr. Dirvana adds: "I soon realized that with the mentality of Denktash, the progress of the Turkish Cypriot community was impossible".
"I bitterly regretted that I did not insist on his being replaced. The Turkish Cypriot community would have been in a very different state today if it had had a leader other than Denktash".
The former Turkish Ambassador also recalls how Denktash insisted on celebrating the 7th of June, the day that Turkish extremists launched an unprovoked attack on Greek citizens and property in Nicosia in 1958.
Mr. Dirvana says: "The Turks of Cyprus have January the 28th as a day of honouring their dead. On this day in 1958 some Turks were killed in a clash with the British. On this day, I myself, together with all my embassy staff and officers of the Turkish contingent, attended the ceremony.
"But Denktash also wanted to celebrate the 7th of June. Dr. Kutchuk [Vice President of the Republic of Cyprus, and thus head of the Turkish Cypriot community] hesitated and came to ask for my advice.
"I was told that on June the 7th 1958, a bomb was placed in the Turkish Information Office in Nicosia by people who, as it was later ascertained had no connection at all with the Greek Cypriots. The Turks of Nicosia were filled with so-called "sacred-indignation" and committed incidents similar to those on September the 6th and 7th [1955] in Istanbul.
"On that day, no Turkish Cypriot was killed. But Denktash wanted to celebrate this anniversary for which we should feel sorry. I pointed out to him that it was not right for Turkish flags to be hoisted on that day, especially as those responsible for the events of September [1955] in Istanbul were being tried in Turkey. The celebration of such an anniversary by the Turkish Cypriots would constitute an even greater error. Dr. Kutchuk agreed with me".
And Mr. Dirvana concludes: "Although Denktash knows all this, he distorts the truth and tries to exploit sacred matters like the flag and the dead. I feel shame on his behalf".
May 15, 1964
Original article available from Miliyet:
http://gazetearsivi.milliyet.com.tr/Arsiv/196...
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