The New Cyprus Party (Yeni Kibris Partisi) or the YKP was founded in 30 October 1989. It is a leftist party in the northern part of Cyprus and has no representatives in the parliament of that breakaway region.  One of the YKP’s basic principles is that “Cyprus is the common homeland of all Cypriotes. The future of those living in this common homeland should also be common”. The party also “opposes discrimination on the ground of religion, language, gender, sexual preference and race and all chauvinism”. It also rejects a Europe which follows neo-Liberal polities and whose borders are closed. The YKP wants a Europe “which actively opposes militarism and war, and militantly defends peace”.

Since the day of its foundation the YKP was attacked orally by the Turkish Republic’s civil and military administrations, it has been discarded by local authorities and its premises bombed and shot at. In order to reach the public and voice its opinions  the YKP has published on 15 April 1990 a weekly newspaper called “Bu Memleket Bizimdir” (This Country Is Ours) of which only 3 issues have appeared. Since 2 September 1990, it publishes the weekly Yeniçağ (New Era).

In order to obtain more information on the party’s activities and opinions I had the following interview with the YKP’s council member and secretary of foreign relations Mr. Alpay Durduran.

Mr. Durduran was born in 1942 and has been actively engaged in politics since 1975. Because of his openly critical stance vis-à-vis the Turkish authorities he has been the target of bombings and shootings. He is the author of a book in Turkish named “An Island At Sea” and has published many newspaper articles. He is a retired member of parliament and a full time politician.

■ Vahram Emiyan:- One of the objectives of the YKP is to transform the political parties in Cyprus to be open for all Cypriots. What measures has the YKP taken to attain that objective?

♦ Alpay Durduran:-  In order to achieve this objective the YKP visited political groups and politically influential persons. At the beginning it had an open agenda. A new party with two wings, one registered in the republic of Cyprus, the other in the northern part of the Island with joint central organs registered in the republic or not registered in the republic just for coordination, or a new party registered in the republic with Turkish Cypriot members who are members of YKP for political activities in the northern part of our country. Therefore we were open to all suggestions.

But Greek Cypriots were already members of a political party or a political group, so they were not prepared to get united with other Greek Cypriots in a new grouping. Thence we failed. Afterwards we changed our party constitution to accept Greek Cypriots and EU citizens living in Cyprus and translated our constitution and political program into Greek and English and published them on the internet web site of the YKP. We are accepting application for membership via our internet web site.

Anyway we can’t say we are successful. We have received very few applications from Greek Cypriots.

■ V. Emiyan:-  The YKP considers the reunification of Cyprus as a priority. According to you what form of government should that unified Cyprus have?

♦ A . Durduran:- We believe a multi cultural society is a gift. Reunification of Cyprus will reprovide that gift. Therefore, any possible kind of government that might give us a multi cultural environment is welcomed by the YKP. We have no precondition to the form of future government. The Annan plan for the solution of the Cyprus conflict with its many difficulties was an option. Thus, we voted yes to it during the referendum in the northern part of the island. That’s why we wanted to establish a bi communal (all Cypriot) party, because in the plan every thing is divided into two.

If people want to unite they can find ways after reaching an agreement such as Annan plan envisaged.

But the YKP has never put preconditions for a solution. We are prepared to accept a solution parties agree upon. The Only thing that we shall oppose is ethnically cleansing the two proposed federated states. Two ethnically cleansed regions would mean two chauvinist regions.

  ■ V. Emiyan:-  There are those who consider the Cyprus conflict mostly of mistrust, fear and suspicions. What is your point of view?

♦ A . Durduran:- We think there are exploiters who aim to use ethnic or other kind of differences among groups to gain power and obtain the right to govern them. Therefore, they create mistrust, fear and suspicions,

Today even the EU, which is the biggest economy and potentially the biggest power, cannot hide behind borders. US competition makes it cut the social benefits of its people. Therefore, we can’t accept mistrust, fear and suspicion and avoid reunification. Micro nationalism is a poison.

At the same time, history and balance of interests in the region taught us the necessity of reunification.

We, the Cypriots lived peacefully under British rule and proved that we can overcome the difficulties of ethnic and religious differences.

 

■ V. Emiyan:-  The YKP considers the reunification of Cypriots a priority. In light of the traditional tendency of both communities to identify themselves with the larger Greek and Turkish nations can a Cypriot national identity emerge? How?

♦ A . Durduran:- Cypriot identity will be a creation of our brains. At first, we learned that if we don’t unite we become a tool of external powers. Turkish Cypriots wanted to have a separate state but failed. Greek Cypriots wanted to suppress the Turkish Cypriot rejection of the unification of Cyprus with Greece but failed. We all got our lessons. We know now, that we have to work for our country not for the interests of other countries. Since Cyprus became an EU member, we shall learn even more that we have other options. So we expect that in time we shall be proud of being Cypriots as well as being proud to be a Turk or Greek, Maronite, Armenian etc. The only precondition is having a country ruled by law, not arbitrary decisions. If the rule of law prevails who’s to worry about who is in the government?

I cannot say that a minister will be better than an Armenian one if she or he is a Turk. I remember the time we were under British rule and under joint government in between 1960 and 1963 and afterwards up to 1974 when Turkish Cypriots were living at enclaves but having relations with the Government of Cyprus cleansed from Turkish Cypriots. We suffered then, only because of arbitrary decisions.

■ V. Emiyan:-  In what way has the EU membership of Cyprus affected the Cyprus conflict?

♦ A . Durduran:- The EU membership influenced Turkish Cypriots to support the unification solution of the conflict and joining the EU. I think the desire to join a multi national structure influences people to soften their nationalism, too. Turkey’s aspiration to join to the EU also encouraged Turkish Cypriots.

■ V. Emiyan:- What kind of activities does the YKP have on both sectors of the island?

♦ A . Durduran:- The YKP keeps contacts with all political parties and groups on both sides and takes part in many bi communal activities.

The YKP supports and protects national heritage and ethnic groups in the northern part of our island.

■ V. Emiyan:-  In what way is your party perceived by the Turkish authorities and the wider Turkish Cypriot public?

♦ A . Durduran:- By our administration we mean Turkey in Cyprus and our elected administration. Turkey treated us very badly. Attacks on our members and party premises, by bombs and bullets, were its answer to our activities. Our newly elected administration tries not to see us. But I can say people love us. We received a small number of votes, because no one believes that we shall be allowed to change Turkey’s Cyprus policy. In 1981, when I was the leader of the opposition and with the support of two small opposition parties, my party won the majority at the legislative and according to the constitution I had the right to form a government, but Turkey and its collaborators prevented me. That disappointed the people and they lost their self confidence.

Since then we are the champion of sympathy, but with no chance of being elected.

■ V. Emiyan:-   In what way is your party perceived by the Greek Cypriot authorities and the Greek Cypriot public?

♦ A . Durduran:-  Greek Cypriot authorities unfortunately could not understand that without the support of Turkish Cypriots they can not find a solution to the Cyprus problem. They began to differentiate between Turkish Cypriots and Turkey and behave accordingly, but did not begin to try to gain the support of Turkish Cypriots. Therefore they failed to make them believe, that the Greek side consumed the recognition of the identity of Turkish Cypriots as members of an ethnic community. For that reason, the administration of Greek Cypriots has no consultation with us, despite its recognition of the value of our struggle. Probably there are some in the administration who don’t want to give evidence that there are Turkish Cypriots who want to help Cyprus and solve its problems.

Greek Cypriots love us. Except ultra nationalist that consider us traitors of the Turkish Cypriot community.

■ V. Emiyan:-   According to you what should be the fate of Armenian saint Magar convent and other Armenian properties and what legal status should they receive?

♦ A . Durduran:- We want all religious properties to be governed by their communities. Armenians were not a party to the conflict as a community, therefore treating them as the Greek Cypriots were being treated was wrong. Anyway the treatment of Greek Cypriots was a violation of international law, too. If they choose to reside in the northern part, they might do so.

At the same we call respect to the Geneva Conventions and since the conflict is ended, civilians might be allowed to return to their lands and properties and this may begin by allowing Varosians, Maronites and Armenians to return.