Sir, - Your reports of the recent disturbances on Cyprus have been uncharacteristically inaccurate. The state in the northeast of the island ceased to be known as the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus in November 1983, when the constitution of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was passed by referendum. This inaccuracy is akin to referring to the Republic of Ireland as the Irish Free State, or Northern Ireland as the Six Counties.
Famagusta, or Gazi Magusa, is neither occupied nor abandoned. The TRNC is an autonomous state with close relations to Turkey, just as the Greek Cypriot state has good relations with Greece.
The adjoining town of Varosha was abandoned in 1974 when Turkey, within her rights as a guarantor power, landed troops to defend the Turkish Cypriot population and restore order following a Greek Cypriot coup d'etat. The homes in Varosha have not been occupied by Turkish Cypriots; rather, the government of the TRNC has previously offered to cede Varosha to the self proclaimed (Greek) Republic of Cyprus.
The government of the TRNC, while condemning the aggression displayed in recent days by the Greek Cypriots, remains committed to a solution to the Cyprus problem on the lines of a binational, bicommunal, bizonal federal republic. The chief obstacle remains the lack of recognition for the TRNC, which unbalances negotiations with the Greek Cypriots. - Yours, etc.,
Newtownards,
Co Down.