Greek Cypriots have not learned from past mistakes - Akinci

The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus president, Mustafa Akinci has accused the Greek Cypriot  community of not learning from past mistakes but said there was no need to blame the entire Greek Cypriot community for the atrocities committed against the Turkish Cypriots in the past, but that those who committed the atrocities should definitely bear the brunt.

Akinci made the remarks on Monday while addressing a commemoration ceremony for 126 Turkish Cypriots from Aloa, Santalari and Maratha villages in the Famagusta district, who were killed by Eoka B paramilitary organisation in August 1974 following Turkey’s intervention on the island.

According to Akinici, 45 of the 89 people killed in Maratha and Santalari villages were children under the age of 16.

Stressing the importance of not forgetting what happened in the past, Akinci said;

For us the guarantee of not experiencing the same, goes along with not forgetting. If we forget, we let our guard down.

Akinci said it is obvious, that the Greek Cypriots did not take any lessons from the past “considering the commemoration and blessing of the Enosis referendum (union with Greece) of 1955,” a decision by the Greek Cypriot parliament that caused tensions between the two communities earlier in the year that led to a collapse in reunification talks.

Akinci noted that it was important to raise new generations in light of past events adding that the Turkish Cypriots were not raising new generations who saw Greek Cypriots as enemies.

He said that it was important for the two sides to live peacefully “as two equal entities” on the island. 

The Turkish Cypriots can’t and won’t chase Greek Cypriots out of the island, he said. Neither do they (Greek Cypriots) have the power to do this [to us].

It was attempted in the past but it was clear it could not be done, he said.