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Category: Cyprus/TRNC

  • UN meeting of divided Cyprus’ rival leaders aims at breakthrough in stalled peace talks

    UN meeting of divided Cyprus’ rival leaders aims at breakthrough in stalled peace talks

    By Menelaos Hadjicostis (CP) – 1 day ago

    NICOSIA, Cyprus — The United Nations’s secretary-general will meet with the rival leaders of divided Cyprus this week to prevent a collapse of reunification talks that could cement the island’s partition and derail Turkey’s EU membership hopes.

    Ban Ki-moon will sound out Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in New York on Thursday about whether they can negotiate a way out of an impasse threatening to scuttle more than two years of negotiations.

    Ban “wants to hear face-to-face with the leaders their perspective of how the talks are going and what the prospects are,” U.N. envoy Alexander Downer said.

    The island was split into a Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot south in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by people who wanted to unify the island nation with Greece. Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, but only the internationally recognized south enjoys the benefits. A northern breakaway state declared in 1983 is recognized only by Turkey, which maintains 35,000 troops there.

    The U.N. has invested much in these talks, which have been touted as the best chance yet to settle a dispute hampering Turkey’s troubled EU membership bid and crippling EU-NATO co-operation. NATO member Turkey has blocked formal NATO-EU relations, while Cyprus has vetoed Turkey taking part in EU defence activities.

    Turkey began entry talks with the EU in 2005, but negotiations on several policy areas have stalled or been suspended because Turkey refuses to open its ports to trade with Cyprus, as it does not recognize the Greek Cypriot government.

    The New York meeting is intended to spur the leaders into reaching a breakthrough in the reunification process.

    “The only thing that can break the deadlock at this point is an enhanced U.N. role in the talks,” said Ahmet Sozen, a politics professor at Eastern Mediterranean University.

    Christofias has warned against introducing any form of arbitration or deadlines to avoid reprising failed talks in 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N. drafted peace plan they felt was weighted against them. Downer said the U.N. isn’t “in the game of forcing anything on anybody that they don’t want.”

    Although some progress has been made on how to share power within an envisioned federation, the talks have bogged down on the issue of what will happen to private property lost during the 1974 war.

    Eighty per cent of property in the Turkish Cypriot north is owned by now displaced Greek Cypriots, and Christofias insists they should be allowed to decide on what happens to it.

    But Eroglu argues the current occupants have an overriding interest and proposes a compensation scheme instead, amid fears that majority Greek Cypriot ownership in the north would undermine Turkish Cypriot administrative control.

    With several failed peace initiatives over 36 years weighing on these negotiations, the international community is running out of patience, Sozen said.

    “A lot of people are feeling that we’re getting toward the end. Either we get a federal Cyprus or something else,” he said, including a Taiwan-style arrangement where the north would trade directly with the world without formal recognition as a separate state.

    One indication of faltering patience was a recent newspaper opinion piece by Britain’s former foreign secretary, Jack Straw, arguing that formal and permanent partition should be considered for the island if these talks fail.

    Christofias has repeatedly said partition is not an option, while Eroglu urged the international community to spell out the consequences of failure.

    via The Canadian Press: UN meeting of divided Cyprus’ rival leaders aims at breakthrough in stalled peace talks.

  • Italian Senator Amato Becomes TRNC Citizen

    Italian Senator Amato Becomes TRNC Citizen

    amaro talatItalian Senator Paolo Amato became a citizen of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Tuesday.

    Italian Senator is currently in TRNC to attend celebrations to mark the 27th foundation anniversary.

    TRNC Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun told a news conference that TRNC Council of Ministers approved application of Amato to become TRNC citizen.

    Ozgurgun said he has the full belief that Amato would defend rights of Turkish Cypriot people.

    Italian Senator Amato said he felt honor to become TRNC citizen, adding that the best way to express the closeness felt towards a community which suffered a lot was to become an active member of it.

    Amato said he has chosen Northern Cyprus as his second motherland which stemmed from ethical and cultural belief.

    “Being an Italian and Turkish Cypriot, I will endeavor to defend rights and values of TRNC. I will be in an effort to attract the attention of Italy and the EU to Cyprus question,” Amato said adding that he considered Cyprus question as a key of the agenda determining relations between Italy and Turkey.

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  • Turkey and TRNC signs cooperation protocol

    Turkey and TRNC signs cooperation protocol

    The protocol will for the first time enable implementation of partial donation in TRNC

    Monday, 15 November 2010 17:43

    Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Monday signed a cooperation protocol to support Partial Donation Assistance Projects in TRNC.

    Turkish State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, speaking at the ceremony, stated that private sector in TRNC should be supported more.

    Cicek said Turkey’s support to TRNC would continue whatever the result of Cyprus negotiations would be, and underlined that permanent projects were very important for the next generations in TRNC.

    The protocol will for the first time enable implementation of partial donation in TRNC, boost production of private sector and contribute private sector to modernize its equipment.

    The donation program will be financed with the sources of Turkey’s Embassy in Lefkosa.

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    via Turkey and TRNC signs cooperation protocol [ WORLD BULLETIN- TURKEY NEWS, WORLD NEWS ].

  • Anastacia to perform in KKTC despite Greek Cypriot lobby

    Anastacia to perform in KKTC despite Greek Cypriot lobby

    American singer Anastacia arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) on Thursday for a gig slated for Saturday at the country’s swanky Cratos Premium Hotel despite efforts by Greek Cypriots to prevent the event from happening.

    anastaciaAnastacia came to İstanbul on Thursday evening en route to the KKTC. She declined to comment to reporters at the İstanbul airport. The 42-year-old renowned singer, whose has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, first called off her gig, originally slated for Sept. 25, due to growing pressure from the Greek Cypriot diaspora in the US. The owner of the $220 million newly built luxury hotel, Murat Bozoğlu, persuaded the singer to change her mind and perform in the KKTC as she had originally agreed.

    Bozoğlu had previously invited pop star Jennifer Lopez, but the singer had decided to cancel her performance last minute after a storm of angry protests from Greek Cypriots who thought her performance would lend the KKTC political legitimacy.

    Cyprus was split after a Turkish intervention that followed a Greek Cypriot coup engineered by the military junta ruling Greece in 1974. The internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government, which runs the southern part of Cyprus, has accused Turkey of occupying Greek Cypriot land.

    Renowned Spanish singer Julio Iglesias and R&B singer Rihanna were also forced to cancel their planned performances in the KKTC, which is not internationally recognized and has been isolated from rest of the world for decades. Turkish Cypriots in the north accuse Greek Cypriots of persistently blocking efforts to end their international isolation even after they voted for a plan to reunite the island in 2004, a plan rejected by Greek Cypriots.

    via Today’s Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news.

  • The EU must not shut Turkey out

    The EU must not shut Turkey out

    Frattini + Davutoglu09 November 2010

    Davutoglu and his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini issued joint article, urging the European Union to support Turkey’s ongoing works on harmonization with the EU acquis.
    An article published in Tuesday’s Italian newspaper La Repubblica with the title “European Union should not Close Doors to Turkey” stated that Turkey targeted full membership to the EU.

    Davutoglu and Frattini in the joint article criticized that some EU member countries were not positive towards Turkey’s full membership saying, “Turkey’s accession process cannot be antagonized by taking refuge behind delusive allegations such as Turkey does not embrace European culture and law. This means denying the unique capacity of Europe in harmonizing and blending together different cultures within the framework of shared values that has been one of the main elements of the success achieved in the construction of the union.”

    Davutoglu and Frattini stated that negotiation process should not lose its dynamism, adding, “the desired pace for the negotiation process cannot be achieved, however, due to obstacles brought up by certain member states that are of a political nature and have no relevance to the technical negotiations. It is the common responsibility of all parties not to have the negotiation process lose its dynamism. Turkey should fulfill its part by absolutely conforming with the acquis communautaire, and the EU should play a role supporting Turkey in this process.”

    The joint article also referred to striking developments in Turkish economy and said, “Turkey has been developing rapidly with its young and dynamic foundation in line with her goal of becoming a member of the EU family. Working her way out of a severe economic crisis in the first half of the 2000s, Turkey today has become Europe’s most dynamic economy. The Turkish economy has grown by 10 percent in the second quarter of 2010. With her great economic potential, Turkey’s full membership will increase EU’s economic dynamism and competitiveness.”

    In addition to strengthening her economy, Turkey has been very successful in steadily adapting to EU norms and standards by making the necessary legislative changes and particularly by realizing constitutional reform, it said.

    The article underlined that, “Having a European, Mediterranean, Balkan and Middle Eastern identity all at the same time, Turkey has been pursuing an active, multi-dimensional and result-oriented foreign policy in order to improve relations with all her neighbors to the full extent and strengthen peace, stability and prosperity. It is clear that Turkey’s foreign policy vision, values, goals and tools are overlapping with those of the EU.”

    “As is seen in the fifth wave of enlargement, the accession process to the EU plays a role encouraging reforms in candidate countries and constitutes a significant source of motivation. Furthermore, the full membership of Ankara will strengthen the EU’s institutional profile as promoting security in various areas, including energy, as a global actor,” the article said.

    It noted that, “Consequently, Turkey’s accession to the EU is a historic opportunity that should not be missed both by Turkey and the EU. Being in full awareness of such a strategic opportunity, Italy has always been alongside Turkey in her gateway to Brussels, exerted efforts in every platform so as to carry the accession negotiations a step further, looked for new avenues for purposes of putting an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and been working to initiate the process that will lead up to visa exemption, a fundamental element in getting Turkey and especially her people closer to Europe. Turkey appreciates and takes heart from Italy’s precious support. The unique fraternal relations symbolized by Italy’s support rendered for Turkey’s EU goal fosters the strategic partnership of our countries in all areas. Today’s forum, which takes its strength from the intense dialogue we have succeeded establishing on every issue, represents the meeting ground of traditions belonging to those civilizations sharing common values.”

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    Frattini – Davutoglu: « The EU must not shut Turkey out » (la Repubblica)

    Dear Editor,

    Italy and Turkey have always been two important pilasters in the peace and security of the region of Europe and the Mediterranean. Rome and Istanbul are two large cities in the Mediterranean, the cradle of civilisation.

    Our cooperation “model” draws its strength from our history of friendship and millenary reciprocal influence. The intense existing relations between our governments and peoples are the tangible proof that this heritage is still intact.

    Our countries are pursuing common political objectives, first and foremost among them Turkey’s full membership in the European Union.

    Negotiations began a little over five years ago, and since then Italy has never wavered in its support of Turkey’s European prospects. Unfortunately, the accession process has been slow, not least as a result of the numerous political reservations voiced by some Member States not pertinent to the technical negotiations. Turkey must continue to work at enacting internal reforms, thereby adapting to the Community acquis; but the EU must do its part in supporting Turkey’s efforts. We cannot shut Turkey out on the pretext of differences to European culture and law. This would mean denying that one of the keys to the success of the European political construction is its unique ability to harmonise and amalgamate differing political and cultural systems in a common area of shared values.

    A young and dynamic nation, Turkey is changing rapidly for the better, in line with its legitimate aspirations to be part of the European family. Only ten years ago the country was coming out of a dramatic crisis, and today Turkey is one of the most dynamic economies in Europe, with 10% growth in the second quarter of 2010. It is also a member of the G20. Turkey’s accession can therefore contribute to strengthening the EU’s economic dynamism and competitiveness.

    Thanks to a constitutional package that recently took effect, Turkey has also taken some major steps forward with regard to adapting to Community norms and standards.

    Turkey’s foreign policy coincides to a great extent with the EU’s from the point of view of vision, values, ends and means. Turkey belongs, at one and the same time, to Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, where it pursues an active, multidimensional foreign policy on behalf of strengthening peace and regional stability. Its accession could thus contribute to strengthening the EU’s profile as a global actor and promoter of security, as well as on the energy front.

    Turkey’s EU integration is an unparalleled historic opportunity for the EU and for the country itself. For this reasons, Italy has always stood by Turkey’s side in this demanding bid for membership, and has been active in every arena to encourage negotiations. Turkey draws strength from Italy’s support, for which it is profoundly grateful. This relationship of brotherly friendship sees in Italy’s support for Turkey’s dream a solid anchor, and is nourished daily by the strategic partnership that unites us in all fields through joint initiatives and intense dialogue on all topics.

    Related:

    «Turkey’s “silent revolution” on the way to Europe» by Minister Frattini and Foreign Minister of Turkey Davutoglu

  • Don’t expect Cyprus gesture from Turkey, Gül tells EU

    Don’t expect Cyprus gesture from Turkey, Gül tells EU

    Turkey has done enough to push for a settlement on the divided island of Cyprus, and no one should expect any more gestures from Ankara now for the sake of progress in its troubled bid to join the European Union, President Abdullah Gül has said.

    The EU opened accession negotiations with Turkey in 2005 but progress has been slow since then.

    The EU suspended talks on eight of the 35 chapters in 2006 due to Turkey’s refusal to open its ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus. Ankara insists it will not open its ports and airports unless the EU keeps its 2004 promise to allow trade with Turkish Cyprus. The EU made the promise as a reward for the Turkish Cypriots, who voted for a UN plan to reunite the island in 2004. The Greek Cypriots rejected the plan but joined the EU a few days after the vote as representative of the entire island.

    News reports have recently said the EU is now asking Turkey to take a step to overcome the stalemate in its accession process, by opening a few Turkish ports or airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus as a good will gesture to the Greek Cypriots.

    Gül, in an interview with BBC’s Turkish service, dismissed such a move. “I know how it works. Everybody says ‘Turkey should offer a gesture.’ Turkey does offer gestures but gestures would be unnecessary if you don’t see them reciprocated,” Gül said, emphasizing that Turkey made its biggest gesture to resolve the Cyprus dispute by supporting the UN plan for reunification in 2004. “The Turkish Cypriots made a big gesture by voting for the plan but they got nothing in return,” he said, referring to the continued isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. And in 2006, when he was the Turkish foreign minister, he called for “lifting all embargoes of the island” but even that was not accepted.

    09 November 2010, Tuesday

    TODAY’S ZAMAN  İSTANBUL