GC’s blasted for attacking Dutch MP’s TRNC tweet

GREEK Cypriots have been blasted for attacking a Dutch MP who tweeted about her latest go to to North Cyprus.

Taken from this week’s situation.

By Halil ELTAN

Liane den Haan was subjected to barrage of criticism this week after sharing a photograph of herself assembly Tourism and Surroundings Minister Fikri Ataoğlu at his workplace.

She stated the pair had an “casual” and “attention-grabbing assembly” and that they talked about “tourism in North Cyprus and the way onerous it’s throughout the Covid pandemic”. She additionally added the hashtags “KKTC” (TRNC) and “Kıbrıs” (Cyprus).

The tweet sparked a whole lot of replies. Amongst these angered was the South’s finance minister Constantinos Petrides, who wrote: “Informally talking, you’re a shame for the establishment you signify, its formal coverage, and the European values. You stand for ethnic cleaning and occupation.”

One other Greek Cypriot politician, Emily Yiolitis, replied: “And you’re a member of a parliament of an EU state? Visiting an illegally occupied territory which rightfully belongs to an EU state? For lack of higher phrases, WTF.”

Turkish Cypriots rushed to defend Ms Den Haan. Kerem Haser, a press officer for President Ersin Tatar, wrote: “Thanks for lending an ear to the Turkish Cypriots. We’re the actual victims of the Cyprus situation. 

“Turkish Cypriots are co-owners of Cyprus with inherent sovereign equality rights. We exist.  Begin direct commerce and journey. The EU failed of their pledges made throughout the Annan plan.”

A gaggle referred to as the Younger Turkish Cypriots replied: “Thanks for visiting our nation and never falling sufferer to the racial abuse we continually obtain from Greek Cypriots. 

“[We] Turkish Cypriots are people too. We now have sovereign equality and are indigenous to the island of Cyprus. Our 58-year lengthy isolation should come to an finish.”

In a separate put up on Fb Ms Den Haan shared a photograph of Girne harbour with messages in Dutch and Turkish that learn: “North Cyprus is probably the most particular place for me to relaxation. Love, friendship, the scrumptious meals, the hospitality of individuals. . . That is the place my coronary heart is at house.”

Requested by Cyprus At this time to touch upon the criticism she acquired, Ms Den Haan stated: “I’ve been visiting the island for a few years now to have a trip with my household and to go to buddies. This go to to the minister was a pleasant and casual go to as a personal particular person.

“I didn’t report the feedback on Twitter as a result of all people is entitled to his or her personal opinion.” She added that she doesn’t personal a property within the TRNC. 

Yesterday Mr Ataoğlu, the Presidency and the Overseas Ministry issued statements defending Liane den Haan’s go to and slamming those that attacked her.

Mr Ataoğlu stated that it has been “unimaginable to succeed in an answer on the Cyprus situation for years due to this mentality” and that the “Greek Cypriot and Greek political authorities proceed to pursue a coverage removed from humanitarian values”.

Noting that he was happy with the “pleasant and courteous go to” of Ms Den Haan, Mr Ataoğlu continued:

“I want to reiterate that will probably be a terrific honour and pleasure to see Ms Den Haan in our nation once more.

“On the identical time, I repeat my pleasant name to the Greek Cypriot and Greek political authorities and want to ship a message that we are going to be happy to host them in our nation. 

“Particularly as a result of pandemic, I consider that it could be a terrific alternative to recollect human values, cooperation and unity.”

A press release from President Tatar’s workplace stated the criticism of Ms Den Haan by Greek Cypriots represented a “new manifestation of their outdated mentality”.

“We condemn these statements made with disregard to diplomatic courtesy guidelines and the mentality behind them,” it stated.

“So as to not reveal the reality in reaching their racist and domineering ambitions, the Greek Cypriot facet tries to forestall worldwide conferences with Turkish Cypriots with an understanding that’s removed from the tradition of reconciliation and violates human rights virtually day by day.

“The most recent sufferer of this understanding was Dutch MP Haan. Those that can not tolerate Turkish Cypriots even assembly with any overseas official, clarify with their reply why the Cyprus situation has been unresolved for greater than 50 years.”

The Overseas Ministry stated: “We strongly condemn the improper statements made by the Greek Cypriot officers . . . We want to remind [Mr] Petrides, who has made unfounded allegations relating to the go to of Ms Liane den Haan, that it’s the Greek Cypriot facet which ousted the Turkish Cypriot folks, because the equal co-founder associate of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus, from the partnership republic by pressure of arms and usurped and occupied its places of work in addition to subjected our folks to ethnic cleaning between 1963-1974.

“The stated statements of the Greek Cypriot officers are usually not solely a brand new manifestation of their efforts to sanitise the eleven-year lengthy atrocities that they had inflicted on the Turkish Cypriot folks and their shame within the historical past, but in addition disclose the mindset of the Greek Cypriot political elites seeing the Turkish Cypriot Folks as a minority.”