Sir, - I read the articles published in your newspaper on August 13th 1996 about the incidents in Cyprus, and the editorial on August 14th 1996, with great concern.
Although the issues of Cyprus and Northern Ireland might look similar from an outsider's point of view, the historical reasons causing the problems in both islands are quite different. Therefore the editorial leads the reader to derive wrong conclusions.
The comments of the world media about Sunday's incidents in Cyprus are entirely different than your correspondent, Michael Jansen's. A brief look at these reports show that the Turkish Government had warned the United Nations and the British Government about the consequences of the Greek bikers' protest. During the incidents, the bikers taunted the Turkish Cypriot police by gestures, slogans and throwing rocks. The US media described the events as a "violent demonstration" rather than a "peaceful protest". The UN also blames the Greek Cypriot authorities for not preventing demonstrators crossing into the UN controlled buffer zone.
Without going into the details I would like to underline two very important points which may help Irish public opinion to have a better understanding of the Cyprus issue.
First, Mr Rauf Denktash, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, who was blamed for "permitting little contact between the two communities", is maybe the single politician on the island seeking a peaceful but also a just and lasting solution which will pave the way for both communities to live together with equal rights.
Second, the Turkish army, very much blamed for the recent incidents, is, whether you like it or not, the sole power on the island which prevented bloodshed for the last 22 years, recalling the brutal attacks by Greek Cypriots against the Turkish Cypriots during the 1960s and 70s. Turkish intervention in the island, which was in accordance with the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, was the result of Greek ENOSIS (the union of Cyprus with Greece) campaign and the Greek sponsored coup backed by thousands of Greek troops ousting the Greek Cypriot administration of Archbishop Makarios on July 15th 1974.
These are some of the historical facts that Ms Jansen unfortunately avoids in her articles. - Yours, etc.,
Ambassador of Turkey,
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.