20 December 2019, 12:11

Ukraine is on a long way

Ahmet Özay

aozay@qha.com.ua

On the 19th of January 2014 we met the Pre-Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the occupation in Crimea started. We got an appointment from Mr. Erdogan to meet Crimean Tatar National Parliament in the meeting that planned to be in Berlin in February.
On the 5th of February 2014 Pre-Minister Erdogan accepted to meet the President of Crimean Tatar National Parliament Refat Cubarov and his committee at Ritz Carlton Hotel Berlin. In the end of that meeting, it was concluded that the future of Crimea would have dark days.

After one day, we were received by an Ambassador in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Germany. He held an important meeting with the President of Crimean Tatar National Parliament Refat Cubarov and Vice President of Crimean Tatar National Parliament Aslan Ömer Kırımlı. The German Ambassador pressed to prefer speaking Russian.

The President of Crimean Tatar National Parliament Refat Cubarov did express concern about the occupation in Crimea before the occupation started. The Ambassador was listening to them, then he said: We follow the news from Crimea very carefully and seriously. We know the details but our perspective to Crimea is different from our perspective to Ukraine. This meeting was 5 years ago and Germany's ''different perception'' of Crimea is in Steinmeier Plan today.
Crimea is drawn to a platform different from the territorial integrity of Ukraine by the plan. The rationale is a repetition of what was pronounced by a German diplomat in Berlin five years ago: ''Everything was talked with precision in Paris, but there was no time to talk about Crimea ”

It is not just the attitude of the Europeans that is dramatic. The fact that the current Ukrainian administration cannot bring Crimea to the negotiating table even on a different platform.

Old Crimea

Both Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians never forget Crimea. They are just careful not to leave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is known to act with humanitarian motivation, between two fires. The Crimean Tatars consider the normal process in order to shape the policy of the young President.

Last weekend we were invited to a meeting that is organized in a cafe called ''Old Crimea''. The Vice President of Crimean Tatar National Parliament Ahtem Çiygoz was welcoming his guests in the garden. It was his birthday. Former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and his family was invited to the birthday ceremony and they joint the meeting too. The birthday ceremony was so modest that was just about a few tables. The former president made a speech about Mr. Çiygoz then said: he is a real patriot. Crimean Tatar composer Karikov performed the song of Aşık Veysel ''Uzun ince bir yoldayım''. Karikov learnt baglama in Koln by a famous Turkish composer. That baglama was like symbol of Ukraine that is in a dramatic period in these days.

We spoke to Petro Poroshenko then he told us that he will celebrate the religious new year in Istanbul Fener Church. Ukraine and Turkey relations are not only related to Karikov's baglama, but also the Fener Church.

JEMILEV PLAN

When I was leaving from the cafe ''Old Crimea'' I started to think about Steinmeir Plan that does not have a place for Crimea. I remembered the national hero Mustafa Jemilev. Then I remembered the nation Crimean Tatars that never gave up and their love to freedom. If there is no place for Crimea in Europeans' Ukraine Plan, I asked myself ''perhaps Mr. Jemilev change it to a Ukrainian plan that involves Crimea''.

It is time to give insight for our national leader's peace plan against Steinmeier's ''peace'' plan that does not have a place for Crimea.

Ukrainians are in need of Jemilev's wisdom against the uneasiness that started because or Steinmeier Plan. Christmas is coming, we must use this long holiday very well. Why do not we suggest ''Jemilev Plan'' to the world public opinion with Turkey's initiative.