The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) hosted a luncheon for Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk at the Capitol Hill Club, across from the House of Representatives Congressional Office Buildings. ATAA Trustee Gunay Evinch provided welcoming remarks, underscoring that 2013 was the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the ethnic cleansing campaign by the Junta then ruling Greece and Greek Cypriot nationalists against the Turkish Cypriots on the island. He commended the Turkish Cypriots who despite these horror, for their courage and determination to seek reunification under a bicommunal, bizonal federation, which the United States also supports.
PM Kucuk stated that Turkish Cypriots were ready to re-negotiate reunification, and invited the Greek Cypriot administration to the table. He stated that when the Southern Cypriot economy was booming and Southern Cyprus was strong ten years ago, Greek Cypriots voted overwhelmingly against the UN reunification plan. Now that their economy has hit rock bottom due to lack of proper fiscal discipline and maladministration, PM Kucuk expressed that the Greek Cypriot leadership is claiming it is in no position to negotiate. “There will always be reasons not to do the right thing. But, it would behoove the Greek Cypriots to realize that reunification with a strong Northern Cypriot economy and democracy is in their interests.”
Congressmen Tom Cole (OK) and Ed Whitfield (KY) attended to meet Prime Minister Kucuk. Chiefs of Staff of seven other Members of Congress as well as the Congressional Research Services experts were there busily taking notes. Evinch noted that after the luncheon Prime Minister Kucuk would visit a number of members of Congress to discuss reunification aims. Prime Minister Kucuk was also keen to visit a few former members of Congress to discuss US business in Northern Cyprus. Thereafter, Prime Minister Kucuk left for New York for meetings with member states of the United Nations.
Evinch underscored the importance of discussions regarding Northern Cyprus’ energy resources; Northern Cyprus’ booming tourism, higher education, medical and ship building industries; the exportation of Turkish Cypriot electricity and drinkable water to Southern Cyprus, as well as issues of money laundering and organized crime in Southern Cyprus.
