TURKEY: Ecevit: The Poet Premier

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Our main concern is the large Turkish community [119,000]. It is our moral responsibility to help when needed. The Greeks had been violating Cyprus agreements for a decade by illegally shipping in troops and military equipment. In the crises of 1964 and 1967, when Turkish Cypriots were being massacred, we wanted to go in and help, but our allies put obstacles in our way. Thus we hesitated. This time we knew we could not delay. If we did, then everything would have been lost for all Cypriots. The independent state of Cyprus would have ended, and de facto enosis [union with Greece] would have occurred.

It was our duty. So we took the initiative. We limited our objectives to providing security and to restoring the constitutional status of Cyprus. We have now reached a position where we can ensure that any new solution to the Cyprus question does not conflict with the interests of Turkey or with the interests of the Turkish community on the island. For example, it is a fact that the Turks on Cyprus can no longer live under Greek rule. This fact should be made part of the new constitutional solution for Cyprus. Separate government for Greeks and Turks on the island is essential after all that has happened.

ON PEACE PROSPECTS

I do not want to look too far into the future. But at the Geneva talks we insisted that Turkey should not be expected to withdraw forces now or stop reinforcing them. The reason is that we have learned from dire experience over the years that our military presence is necessary if we are to contribute to establishing constitutional order in Cyprus as well as maintaining the safety of the Turkish Cypriots. And we have to keep troops there as long as necessary—until we can feel sure about Cyprus. To reach that stage, there must be mutual confidence, on the island and the mainlands. Without that, we cannot live together, so I feel it is our duty to contribute to building mutual confidence, and I hope the Greeks will reciprocate.

ON TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS

I believe there is a strong, latent affinity between Turks and Greeks. We share some of the same folklore and lived under the same government for centuries. I believe in Turkish-Greek friendship. Even during the fighting we tried to say nothing to hurt the Greeks. There have been no public demonstrations against Greeks in Turkey.

I think that Constantino Caramanlis, the new Premier of Greece, is the sort of man with whom we can work. In the past, he has shown he realizes the need for friendship with us and contributed much to it. He may have to do certain things that the Greek people may not easily accept. I assume the Greeks realize that Premier Caramanlis has inherited an accumulation of mistakes for which he is not responsible. The military regime in Athens made it impossible for us to have a dialogue with the Greeks. But now we have a new opportunity.

However, in the present hostile state of relations between our two countries, we cannot continue cooperating with the Greeks in NATO. While Greeks and Turks were fighting on Cyprus, high-ranking Greek officers remained at NATO headquarters in our Port Izmir.