Cyprus

This site has gone live on December 8, 2005 and has already been mentioned in the Cypriot Press. This site was mentioned by a columnist from the Cyprus Mail. The response today from Haji Mike’s column tells me that one of my posts may have struck a nerve. Setting aside his opinion regarding this site...id like to say that anything that attracts public notice for this site is welcomed. Thanks Haji Mike and happy New Year to you and to all my new visitors!

Haji Mike’s article

"Playing the game properly" is a statement you may find in Turkish articles that discuss the Cyprus issue. There is no real progress being made to resolve the Cyprus dispute, quite the contrary. Cypriots hold the view that both communities stand to benefit from a real solution. In fact, the benefits of such a solution will undoubtedly bring benefits to the region as a whole. It was thought that Mr. Talat's ascend toward power would bring new thoughts and ideas that were needed to reconcile the two communities. Mr. Talat's intentions are becoming transparent. We see it, time after time, whether it is the issue of Ledra, direct trade, Varosha, refugee properties, etc etc. Mr. Talat speaking to the associated press today said “I am ready to give Maras in return for abolishing all the sanctions imposed on the TRNC." Varosha (Maras in Turkish) is a dead city located just north of the Attila line. Its inhabitants fled when Turkey invaded. The city has not been repopulated by Turkish Cypriots or colonists and remains empty to this day. A similar offer was given by the previous leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Mr. Rauf Denktash. He made this proposal in a letter to Mr. Annan in July of 2003. Varosha was always meant to be used as a carrot by the Turks to encourage the Greek Cypriots to accept any future agreement. This explains why the Turks never inhabited Varosha and instead decided to fence off the whole city. Here is where the two Turkish Cypriot leaders differentiate...Mr Denktash said "We are determined to pursue our new policy of conducting the talks not on an intercommunal basis but on an interstate basis." The plans may be somewhat similar but Mr. Talat would never make this statement, that wouldn’t be playing the game properly.

The EU recommended 259 million euro aid package to Turkish Cypriots when they voted "yes" to the Annan plan. The RoC government supports the aid package but was seeking decoupling of financial assistance and direct trade claiming that direct trade constitutes de facto recognition. Mr. Talat wants the aid package linked with direct trade between the north of the island and the EU. As a result of the differences...the European Union has abandoned an attempt to provide the aid package. An agreement was not expected. For months now, Mr. Talat and crew were quoted in the Turkish press stating that Northern Cyprus would not accept trade via Southern Cyprus and that the Turkish Cypriots may say "no" to the aid package if it means giving up on direct trade.

I recall the weeks prior to the referendum on the Annan plan that several Cypriot politicians were asking where are the guarantees for implementation of this plan? Some were even seeking to postpone the referendum for a short period of time because of the issue of guarantees. A simple question to a complicated plan...who is going to force Turkey to comply with the targets of the Annan plan if it decides that it doesn’t want to implement certain provisions? Why am I bringing this up today? Turkey signed the customs accord with the EU to the bloc’s 10 new states. Why then is Turkey still refusing to open its ports to Cypriot ships? Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Abdullatif Sener today said that “Turkey will not take a unilateral step and open the ports to the use of Greek Cypriots unless the embargoes facing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Occupied North) are removed.” Can someone show me where this is stated in the customs accord that Turkey signed? There should be no question now why proper guarantees for implementation are important to any future agreement on a possible solution for Cyprus.

The RoC government estimates as many as 10,000 foreigners living in Greek Cypriot property in the North. The Turks are obviously selling off occupied land to citizens from Western Europe in an attempt to prevent Greek Cypriots from returning to their properties. Greek Cypriot refugees like Mr. Apostolides continue to claim their title deeds through legal means, because of this...thousands of EU citizens, mostly Britons, this year formed a UK-registered lobby group to defend the rights of foreigners living in properties formerly owned by Greek Cypriots. This lobby group has built a huge war chest that is currently being used in the Orams trial. An assault on this war chest should be made immediately by opening up new lawsuits against foreigners who are citizens of an EU member State other than Britain and who have purchased property in the North that is in dispute. Speaking of the Orams, new developments today...please read below for more details.

British court to hear Orams case
Meanwhile criticism mounts over Cherie Blair’s involvement in the case

By Philippos Stylianou

As Greek Cypriot reaction to the involvement of the British Prime Minister’s wife Cherie Blair in the controversial Orams case widens, the High Court in London is today expected to hear the positions of the two sides and decide how to proceed.

Turkish Cypriot UK solicitor Hassan Vahit, who appears for Linda Orams, said Cherie Blair had made a significant contribution in drafting Mrs Orams’ appeal. He noted that he expected the trial to open towards either the end of January or the beginning of February 2006.

Constantis Kandounas, the Nicosia lawyer of Greek Cypriot refugee Meletis Apostolides who won a Nicosia District Court decision against the Oramses, said they were waiting to hear what the Attorneys of the other side had to say in the British Supreme Court.

He did not rule out that Cherie Blair acting for the Orams would ask for a postponement until an appeal by Linda Orams in the Supreme Court of Cyprus was heard. A date for the hearing of the Cyprus appeal has yet to be set.

The Cyprus court ordered Linda Orams and her husband David to demolish a luxury villa they built on land they had bought from a Turkish Cypriot in the occupied part of Cyprus and which belonged to Meletis Apostolides.

British assets

In the light of being unable to enforce the decision in the occupied areas, Apostolides asked the decision to be enforced in the British Courts against the Orams’ British assets under an EU arrangement.

The British High Court will not dwell on the merits of the case but on matters of procedure and public interest.

Asked to comment on the retaining of Cherie Blair from the Matrix Chambers to represent the Orams in the case, Candounas simply said: “We are delighted.”

His client Meletis Apostolides has retained the services of Blackstone Chambers, one of the most prestigious of the UK, with Thomas Beazley QC leading a team of other lawyers and solicitors. They include Simon Congdon of the Holmans Fenwick Willan Solicitors and another QC from Brickstone Chambers.

“We regard the issue as a strictly legal one and we shall fight along the lines of an impartial and objective process,” Apostolides himself said when asked about having the British Prime Minister’s wife against him.

Cherie Blair nee Booth spoke out on Wednesday for the first time in the face of mounting criticism for undertaking the defence of the Oramses.

Autonomous

Repeating what the British High Commissioner in Nicosia had already said, she told the daily ‘Simerini’ that her capacity as wife of the British Prime Minister had nothing to do with it. “I am an autonomous lawyer and follow the rules of my profession,” she said.

Mrs Blair added that the Orams had bought the property in good faith and now they risked losing that property and their property in the UK without any compensation.

Commenting on Cherie Blair’s statement, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday that he did not think the rights of the Orams weighed more heavily than the rights of the Greek Cypriot refugees.

He added that all these matters would be raised with the British government in the context of the dialogue established when President Papadopoulos met Prime Minister Tony Blair in London.

The British Charge d’ Afaires in Cyprus Robert Fenn Peter was summoned to the Foreign Office to hear a complaint from Permanent Secretary Sotos zakhaios about Mrs Blair involvement in the Orams case.

Although President Papadopoulos and Foreign Minister George Iacovou expressed their strong displeasure at the development, they both stated their trust in the impartiality of British justice.

Cypriot reactions to Cherie Blair embracing the cause of Britons who bought stolen Greek property in the occupied areas against official British policy was given wide coverage by the British press.

The National Federation of UK Cypriots said the Cypriot community was upset, bitter and disappointed at the action of Mrs Blair to support before the court of justice those who violated the human rights of Greek Cypriot refugees and international laws and principles.

They called on her to reconsider supporting the usurpers of other people’s property.

Poltical parties and organisations issued statements condemning Cherie Blair’s action.

Brian Coleman, London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden has criticised Cherie Blair’s decision to defend the Orams. In an announcement he said:
“I am appalled that Cherie Blair has chosen to defend Mr and Mrs Orams. People who buy illegally acquired properties are making the situation in Cyprus far worse for those dispossessed by the Turkish invasion. I hope this case will serve as a warning to others that buying illegally acquired properties will not be tolerated.”

Cyprus Weekly, December 2005

Some Turkish columnists are delighted at the recent ECHR ruling in the case of Ms. Aresti even though Turkey was found guilty of human rights violations. Perhaps these columnists welcomed this decision because they are champions of human rights? Far from it, they welcomed the court’s ruling because they believe it to be a recognition of the legal system in the occupied north. Mr. Birand from the Turkish daily news in his column today stated “Even if it (court’s ruling) doesn’t mean any official recognition of the KKTC (occupied North), it certainly recognizes it as an entity.” Last April, ECHR ruled in this same case that effective domestic remedies were not possible because restitution was not being offered. Now the court is saying that a domestic remedy may be possible only if there is a genuine effective redress. To Mr. Birand, a genuine effective redress means...“This means the Greek Cypriot petitions will be postponed for at least 10 years. Turkey and the KKTC will gain some time, and the threat of paying so much compensation will be removed for a while.” What a humanitarian. Fortunately, that is not what the court's decision means, lets see what the court really says...“Turkey should introduce a remedy, within three months, which secures, in respect of the Convention violations identified in the judgment, genuinely effective redress for the applicant…”The court goes on to say "Such a remedy should be available within three months and redress should occur three months after that." So you see, its not 10 years as Mr. Birand stated. The court is seeking a proper remedy in a couple of months. Before the ECHR ruling, Mr. Talat expected the ruling to recommend that Turkey open internal judiciary means for refugees, that is why he rushed to create a new property compensation bill. Addressing concerns from Turkish nationalists, Mr. Talat said this..."The target of the new property law (adopted by the occupied North) does not aim to solve property problem in Cyprus." Correct, the target of this law is world public opinion. It is nothing more than a show meant to cover up the unprincipled reality that is the aftermath of the Turkish Invasion. The Turks are seeking more time to cement the division of Cyprus as 31 years is not long enough and they will hammer away at the idea that it’s the Greek Cypriots fault for maintaining this division. After all, it is the Greek Cypriots who rejected last year's Annan plan. Mr. Birand in his column today did not mention the “NO” vote once, he mentioned it twice. Well, Turkey succeeded in gaining time...a short period of time. The true test will be if Turkey allows Ms. Aresti access to her property. If not, will the ECHR accept the chump change offered by the Turks as compensation for lost property?

Cypriot papers today set aside space to debate the recent ECHR Judgment against Turkey and the possible ramifications from the court’s decision. The views were for the most part, positive. Here is what the Cyprus Weekly had to say about the matter.

Turkey guilty

By Alex Efthyvoulos

Turkey was found guilty yet again yesterday by the European Court of Human Rights of violating the rights of Greek Cypriot refugees by denying them the right to return and to regain use of their homes in the occupied north of Cyprus.

The judgement dealt with the application of Famagusta refugee Myra Xenides-Aresti who fled her home at the time of the Turkish invasion in 1974 and has not been allowed to return, or to regain her property ever since.

The Court based its judgement on previous similar cases by Greek Cypriot refugees, like the one by Titina Loizidou.

But in what is regarded as a major development the Court, while reaffirming that Turkey “continued to exercise overall military control over northern Cyprus, added that “the fact that the Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan Plan did not have the legal consequence of bringing to an end the continuing violation of the displaced persons' rights,'' as claimed by Turkey.

The Court reserved sentencing Turkey for these violations giving it six months “to introduce a remedy, which secures genuinely effective redress for the Convention violations identified in the instant judgement.''

Link

But in yet another major development the Court went on to link Turkey's compliance in the Xenides-Aresti case with all the 1,400 other similar applications by Greek Cypriot refugees pending before it.

The Court said it could not ignore the fact that there were already approximately 1,400 property cases pending before it, brought primarily by Greek-Cypriots against Turkey.

The Court considered that Turkey had to introduce a remedy which secured, in respect of the Convention violations identified in the judgment, genuinely effective redress for the applicant as well as in relation to all similar applications pending before the Court, in accordance with the principles for the protection of the rights laid down in Article 8 and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1. “Such a remedy should be available within three months and redress should occur three months after that.''

The Court also rejected Turkey's claim that property rights could be settled through the intercommunal talks. It declared that “the inter-communal talks cannot be invoked in order to legitimate a violation of the Convention.''

Compensation law

The Court also rejected Turkey's claim that the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state should be given the opportunity and the time to consider their compensation law for Greek Cypriot refugees, as well as the claim that a decision by the Rights Court for the payment of compensation to Greek Cypriot refugees “would seriously hamper and prejudice negotiations for an overall political settlement, including the complex property issue which it is hoped will be solved by diplomatic means.''

The Court ruled that Turkey, as the occupying power of north Cyprus, violated two articles of the European Convention of Human Right, Article 8, dealing with the right to respect for the applicant's home, and Article 1, dealing with the protection of property.

In connection with Article 8 the Court noted that since 1974 Xenides-Aresti “has been unable to gain access to, to use and enjoy her home.'' It consequently reaffirmed its earlier judgement in the case of Cyprus v Turkey, “that the complete denial of the right of Greek-Cypriot displaced persons to respect for their homes has no basis in law within the meaning of Article 8 of the Convention.''

Dealing with the violation of Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the Convention, which guarantees every person's right to the peaceful enjoyment of their property, by the Court rejected Turkey's claims that property rights should be settled as part of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

“The Court found no reason to depart from the conclusions which it had reached in previous cases, in particular the case Loizidou v. Turkey: As a consequence of the fact that the applicant has been refused access to the land since 1974, she has effectively lost all control over, as well as all possibilities to use and enjoy her property.

The continuous denial of access must therefore be regarded as an interference with her rights under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 [....] It has not [...] been explained how the need to rehouse displaced Turkish Cypriot refugees in the years following the Turkish intervention in the island in 1974 could justify the complete negation of the applicant’s property rights in the form of a total and continuous denial of access and a purported expropriation without compensation. Nor can the fact that property rights were the subject of inter-communal talks involving both communities in Cyprus provide a justification for this situation under the Convention.''

Accordingly, the Court concluded that there had been and continues to be a violation of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 by virtue of the fact that the applicant is denied access to, control, use and enjoyment of her property and any compensation for the interference with her property rights.

The Court's judgement was reached with the dissenting opinion of one of the seven judges, Turkish judge R. Turmen.

Cyprus Weekly, December 2005

A judgment has been made by ECHR concerning the case of Mrs. Myra Xenides-Arestis vs. Turkey. The ECHR has confirmed that the title deed of Mrs. Myra Xenides-Arestis is legitimate and her ownership of property has not been affected by Turkish occupation. Below is a press release issued by the Registrar so that you can read what the Court demands and what violations Turkey is guilty of as it relates to this case.

For Information regarding this judgment please visit http://www.echr.coe.int/eng/press...

The Blairs became the subject of a media frenzy in Cyprus a couple of days ago when Mrs. Blair confirmed she would be heading the defence of David and Linda Orams. The Orams were found guilty of illegally building on land belonging to a Greek-Cypriot refugee and were ordered by a Cypriot court to pay compensation to Meletios Apostolides. The court also threatened to seize assets in Britain if the Orams do not comply with the ruling. I wasn’t going to comment on the matter as I see nothing wrong with Mrs. Blair defending British citizens. In any event, what good is the war chest the Orams and their supporters built up when the title deed of Meletios Apostolides is unquestionable? The reason for commenting on this today was because two things have occurred since Mrs. Blair’s involvement in this case. For one, it has unified the Cypriot people who feel the world has turned a blind eye to their plight. More importantly, the publicity may deter sensible people pursuing financial gain from illegal land grab. Below is an article (from the Cyprus Weekly archives) that discusses this matter in greater detail.

Talat fury as refugee takes property case to UK

By Philippos Stylianou

TURKISH Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat is reportedly furious at the prospect of British and other EU nationals facing legal action in their own countries for buying Greek Cypriot refugee property in the occupied areas.

But it emerges he had been directly warned about this and remained unimpressed.

Greek Cypriot lawyer Constantinos Kandounas, who is determined to have a Nicosia court decision enforced through the British High Court against a middle-aged English couple for building on such property in Lapithos, near Kyrenia, met Talat face to face in September and pleaded with him to put a stop to the mass sale of Greek Cypriot houses and land.

"I saw Talat in July and September and on the second occasion I told him he could not talk of peace and at the same time allow our properties to be sold out," Kandounas, a rapprochement activist told the Cyprus Weekly at his law office in old Nicosia, and added:

"I told him he must do something to put a stop to this, otherwise there would be nothing left for the Greek Cypriots to return to; I also said that we could not just sit around and see our properties disappear, and I specifically told him that I was going to launch law suits against foreigners who ‘bought’ our properties. Talat said to me: ‘Do what you like.’ "

Candounas, himself a refugee from Famagusta, did just that and two months later he landed the first ever court decision ordering foreign EU nationals out of usurped Greek Cypriot property in the North, in this case an orchard in Lapithos belonging to CTO architect Meletis Apostolides, on which David and Linda Orams from Hove, Sussex, had built a luxury villa with swimming pool two years ago.

The judgment has sent shivers to all others who knowingly or not have settled on refugee property, since a 2001 EU regulation makes national court rulings enforceable in the country of the guilty party. And this is what Candounas and his client intend to do now that Cyprus is a full member of the EU.

The decision issued by the Nicosia District Court on 9 November 2004 orders the Orams to demolish the house along with the swimming pool and perimeter wall and return the property to the rightful owner without further ado. Furthermore, they are ordered to pay 7,654,83 cents in damages and 294.41 a month from December until the property is returned to Apostolides, plus court costs.

Insulting

Meletis Apostolides, who was 24 when his family were forced out of their home and property by the invading Turkish army in 1974, holds dear memories of his life there and wants to replant the citrus grove uprooted for development by the British couple.

"I do not have anything against the British, Germans or any other nationals coming to live in Cyprus as long as they don’t do it as receivers of stolen goods," Apostolides, a father of two adult children, told The Cyprus Weekly. "This behavior is insulting to the British who live legitimately in the free part of the island and to the well-meaning English people at large. A message must be given that they cannot do this sort of thing without consequences."

As the enforcement of the Nicosia court decision in the occupied areas is not feasible, Apostolides could ask the English High Court to confiscate the Orams’ property assets in the UK to meet the pecuniary aspect of the decision.

According to the EU regulation, following a request by a national court to have its judgment enforced by the courts in the guilty party’s country, the latter courts cannot review the merits of the original decision but can only decide on procedural matters.

The London Times in a full page article under the title "Britons face losing homes in Cyprus as refugees reclaim land" wrote that it will be the first time that the High Court has tested the EU 2001 regulation.

Apostolides said he was shocked to find out that a house stood in the place of their old orchard and decided to do something about it. He started by finding out who the trespassers were and when he achieved this he looked for the right lawyer to handle his case.

Lawyer Constantinos Kandounas said the crucial part was serving both the law suit and the court judgment on the Orams. When they filed the case at the Nicosia District Court they also had to hand it to the respondents in Lapithos.

This they did under pouring rain knocking at the Orams’ door with a court bailiff and a Turkish Cypriot employee of Kandounas. Linda Orams took the documents but refused to sign for them.

The Orams failed to appoint a defence until it was too late and the court had already issued its judgment in favor of the applicant Meletis Apostolides. Serving the court decision on the trespassing couple proved easier, as the plaintiffs had the cooperation of the Oram’s Turkish Cypriot lawyer Minhan Sagiroglu, at whose office the judgment was served. Yet the Orams refused to sign.

The Orams this week finally applied unilaterally to the Nicosia District Court for a stay of the decision and to have it set aside. Kandounas has asked the Court to allow his participation in the proceedings and at the same time has filed another case against the Orams for contempt of court in refusing to comply with its ruling.

All three cases - the Orams’ application, Kandounas application to participate in the proceedings and the contempt of court - will be heard on December 20 and, depending on the outcome, Apostolides will ask the British High Court to enforce the Cypriot court’s decision in the UK.

"The Orams will most probably contest this, but their options are limited by the EU regulation," Kandounas said, and added: "They will have to prove that they had a good reason for not appointing a defence in the case against them, and also that they have a good case."

Kandounas is well-known for his participation in the bicommunal contact effort, having set up his own information centre for Turkish Cypriots when movement restrictions were eased. He has also made a written submission to the Select Committee of the British Parliament which is carrying out an inquiry on Cyprus and was interviewed by the Committee during its recent visit to the island.

In his interview with the Cyprus Weekly, Kandounas said he is preparing more law suits against other EU citizens, besides Britons, who have usurped Greek Cypriot property in the occupied areas.

"We have to react if we really want to work for a solution to our problem," he said.

There will be an important judgment this Thursday by ECHR concerning the case of Mrs. Myra Xenides-Arestis vs. Turkey for the violation of her human rights by preventing her access to her property in the North of Cyprus. The applicant, Mrs. Arestis who was born in Famagusta in 1945 will hopefully be compensated for the loss of her property. Obviously this decision is very important and will be closely monitored by thousands of Cypriots who have launched legal proceedings that are now pending before ECHR.

Joost Lagendijk, a European Parliamentarian from Netherlands and co-president of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission gave a speech in Istanbul today where he brought up the issue of Cyprus. According to Mr. Lagendijk, the EU made a big mistake in accepting a divided Cyprus as a member and noted that Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish government supported the Annan plan. In light of this, certain EU leaders were exerting efforts on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots. Clearly Mr. Lagendijk does not speak on behalf of all the people of Netherlands and he has a right to his opinion. Frankly, it’s an opinion that holds no water. With his logic, Netherlands should have been isolated from the rest of the EU because it did not vote “Yes” to the EU referendum. When the Netherlands said “No” to the EU constitution...the Cypriot government said that it stood by the people of Netherlands and that it respects the will of the people of Netherlands. Rejecting the EU constitution does not affect only Netherlands...it affected the entire EU. The Cypriot government approved the EU constitution yet it stood by the decision of the people of Netherlands. The people of Netherlands, rightly so… expect a revised EU constitution that addresses the concerns of its people. The Cypriots are asking for the same thing with the Annan plan. Why should we be treated any differently?

You will find one sided news articles printed daily when it comes to the issue of Cyprus. A PR campaign is in full swing…its purpose is to see that Turkey is successful with its EU accession course.

Turkey must become an EU member only if it properly complies with EU norms. Is it Europe that is joining Turkey or Turkey joining Europe?

I have read many one sided stories on Cyprus and none were as offensive as the article I read today. Surprisingly enough, this article in question is not from a Turkish daily. No, it’s from the other guarantor power…the UK. Britain is supposed to be a guarantor power of one state in Cyprus not two. The Telegraph states “We called for Turkish intervention in Cyprus when the pogroms began in 1963, and warmly applauded the troops when they landed in 1974. More recently, we championed Turkey's accession to the EU.”

Forget about using war as a last resort. Apparently when it concerns Cyprus...the invasion of 1974 did not come soon enough. One of the many reasons why Cyprus rejected the Annan plan was because it would have strengthened guarantor powers. This article by the Telegraph is simply another confirmation for those who overwhelmingly rejected the plan.

Mr. Selcuk Gultasli from the Turkish Daily Zaman doesn’t hold back his displeasure at the “sequence of surreal events in Cyprus” which is what he titled his column today. Like so many other Turkish columnist, he starts off his column by reminding us of who it was that rejected the Annan plan … “We wrote hopeful stories after the Greek Cypriots said “no” to the Annan Plan." Mr. Selcuk Gultasli also quotes from the then-EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen…“The Greek Cypriots cheated on us.” Perhaps Mr. Gultasli can tell us what Mr. Verheugen said about the elections in northern Cyprus and Kurdish rights in Turkey or did Mr. Gultasli not keep those quotes for his columns? Mr. Gultasli then compares The President of Cyprus to that of Austria’s Joerg Haider. Why all this rhetoric? Because The President urged the Cypriots to vote down the plan which would have happened at any event as the majority were against it. It was our democratic right to say we want better and that obstructionism will not lead to concessions in negotiation. Mr. Gultasli questions the EU’s reputation for…as he put it “rewarding” Cyprus and not isolating it and its President, Papadopoulos. He resents the fact that Cyprus is in the EU and as such, playing a role in Turkey’s accession course. Joining the EU was no reward for Cyprus…it earned it by closing all 30 chapters. If Mr. Gultasli is looking for a reward being handed out then he should look no further then the first sentence in his own column. The Turks rewarded with the Annan plan had many people taken aback at the surreal events in Cyprus.

Today’s article from the Cyprus Weekly raises similar points that have been made previously on this site concerning the Ledra issue.

Turkish actions at Ledra Street crossing backfire
by Menelaos Hadjicostis

Turkish army muscle-flexing on the ceasefire line dissecting divided Ledra Street has backfired as construction of a footbridge has flustered the United Nations and earned disapproval from ordinary Turkish Cypriots.

UN dissent over works designed to conceal a heavy Turkish military presence on the ceasefire line was encoded in a Security Council resolution extending the UN peacekeeping force's mandate for another six months.

In the preamble to resolution 1642, adopted unanimously on Wednesday, the Security Council expresses "concern that… differences have arisen over construction activity related to the proposed additional crossing point at Ledra Street".

The UN decision-making body also urged both sides to work with UNFICYP for a mutually acceptable arrangement that would finally open the busy thoroughfare to pedestrian traffic from both sides of the divide to the delight of shopkeepers.

The council encouraged the opening of additional crossing points to the existing five that saw over nine million crossings since travel restrictions were eased in April, 2003.

Strenuous
Nicosia welcomed the formal expression of concern over Turkish machinations at Ledra, amid news of a strenuous effort to reword the resolution and absolve Ankara and its army commanders on the ground in the occupied north.

President Tassos Papadopoulos disclosed that some unnamed nations attempted to excise any references to "construction" so that the controversial footbridge and adjoining works are not made to appear as the root of the Ledra Street problem.

"Great efforts were made to keep the work ‘construction'

of the bridge in the text. Some countries wanted to delete the clear reference to occupation army construction," Papadopoulos told reporters before flying to Brussels for an EU summit yesterday.

Papadopoulos said neither does the resolution's wording put Nicosia on an equal footing with the Turkish side over blame for the Ledra Street impasse.

"The resolution calls on both sides to make efforts to solve the problem that has arisen at Ledra Street. The resolution does not equate both sides in terms of responsibility for the Ledra Street deadlock," said Papadopoulos.

Extension
Although couched in more diplomatic language, resolution 1642 was an extension of a strongly-worded UNFICYP statement rebuking the Turkish side for unilateral action that ultimately scuttled plans to open what has long been seen as one of the most potent symbols of the island's division.

Calling on construction at Ledra Street to cease, UNFICYP said the absence of mutual agreement to open the street neither sanctions, nor gives license to either side for unilateral action.

"…the Turkish Cypriot side opted to act pre-emptively to execute its project, and persists in acting unilaterally toward an objective that, by definition, must be bilateral.

"UNFICYP must point out that, regrettably, unilateral initiatives are incompatible with the spirit of confidence-building measures that have driven the carefully coordinated effort since April 2003 to promote and ensure the orderly opening of crossing points on the island."

Nicosia had argued that the footbridge breached a ceasefire agreement reached at the end of hostilities following the 1974 Turkish invasion by encroaching on the UN-controlled buffer zone.

UNFICYP disputed this, but the Turkish side's intentions were transparent. For the illegal regime, pressing on with construction intended to discredit Nicosia's wish to open Ledra and again portray Papadopoulos as the recalcitrant spoiler, while notching up more political capital and earning international plaudits.

Tactical
The only hitch was the Turkish army's insistence – as Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat readily admitted – to build a footbridge over once-thriving Ermou Street that is now the main military thoroughfare connecting guard posts.

Thus, Turkish army commanders would consolidate their presence in and around Ledra while simultaneously sending the message that the politics of reconciliation would never supercede tactical considerations.

Moreover, the sight of gun-toting Turkish troops and military vehicles crossing underneath pedestrians traversing the bridge would have a strong psychological impact, impressing in the minds of civilians the might of a ubiquitous occupation army the protector of the illegal regime.

Papadopoulos offered another explanation for the bridge – a clear attempt at a military advance inside the buffer zone to half of the entire 180km length of the no-man's land.

Papadopoulos also offered the manning of a guard post recently built deep inside the buffer zone near Louroudjina as further proof of a calculated advance.

Under increasing pressure, Turkish Cypriot officials thumbed their nose with defiant bluster and bravado culminating with Talat's outburst: "We are not obliged to anyone to account for what happens within the boundaries of the TRNC".

Arrogant
Talat laughed off any suggestions at either a pause in construction or bringing down the bridge altogether.

That prompted a sharp riposte from Nicosia.

"Statements from the other side show that they continue to act in an one-sided and arrogant fashion and are not demonstrate any disposition to change their policy," said Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides.

But pressure on Talat and crew has also come from within, with Turkish Cypriot merchants voicing their opposition to the bridge they said would hamper the unimpeded flow of people and money.

Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Merchants and Craftsmen Chairman Hurrem Tulga warned members would keep their shops closed today to protest against the bridge he said is unnecessary and should be removed.

Tulga said merchants on the Turkish-held end of Ledra have suffered worst in the pocket book because pedestrian traffic there has dried up.

He scolded the illegal regime, saying those purporting to want an end to Turkish Cypriot isolation are themselves causing isolation at the proposed Ledra Street crossing.

Despite the angry rhetoric, Turkish Cypriot officials may now be buckling and sitting up to listen.

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi quoted occupied Nicosia mayor Kutlay Erk as admitting that the Turkish side had in its hands a government proposal on opening Ledra in a mutually acceptable way.

The thrust of the government proposals is a general military pull-back from the area to ease pedestrian traffic.

Erk said the Turkish side was ready for negotiations on the proposal that could start under UN auspices.

Cyprus Weekly, 16 - 23 December 2005

The Turkish Cypriots thought they had a reformist in Mr. Talat but instead they wound up with a wolf in sheep’s clothing. For some time now, Mr. Talat among others coordinated a smear campaign to ridicule the President of the Republic concerning the issue of Ledra. Chuckling with such comments as “We could put up a curtain for them if they wish.” Mr. Talat tried to show the world that its the current leadership in Cyprus who wants to maintain the status quo. Mr. Talat suggesting that if Mr. Papadopoulos is stubborn on a simple crossing how will there be an agreement on a possible solution to Cyprus. The implication of this being that maybe its time for countries to deal directly with the North of Cyprus because finding a solution with the current Cypriot President will not be possible. Ironically, it was the current leadership in Cyprus…Mr. Papadopoulos government who first suggested the Ledra crossing in 2004. The Cyprus mail today has reported that the Turkish Cypriot shop owners in Nicosia have announced a large protest on Friday calling on Mr. Talat to remove the bridge. “We do not agree that the bridge should be there. It is both meaningless and an obstruction to the free flow of people between the two sides,” Turkish Cypriot Shop Owners Association head Hurrem Tulga told the Cyprus Mail yesterday. But it appears that Mr. Talat is too busy trying to sway world public opinion than do what he was brought to power for and that is making reconciliation between the two communities possible.

They're several personalities making the news today--all raising the same point and that is direct trade between the EU and Northern Turkish breakaway State. Mr. Talat who was addressing the conference at Sabanci University in Turkey said “End of isolation will bring Greek Cypriots to negotiating table.” Mehmet Ali Birand from the Turkish Daily News also brought up the same issue in his column. Mr. Birand reminded us today once again of who rejected the Annan Plan. He starts off his article by saying “Following a "no" vote from the Greek Cypriots in a referendum on the Annan plan”… and then he goes on to say that there is no direct trade between the EU and Northern Cyprus because of the “lies Papadopulos told the EU.” Isnt direct trade an economic attribute of an independent state? Who are these people kidding? In his article, Mr. Birand goes on to criticize Rauf Denktas for not being cunning enough with the previous plans for if he was…Cyprus might not have been admitted in the EU. I remember reading a lot of news articles back then and I don’t recall any columnists from Turkey criticizing Rauf Denktas for his strong opposition to previous plans. In the last few lines of Mr. Birand’s article, he concludes by saying “And that is the story of how we arrived at the point at which we are today with the Greek Cypriots, who hate us.” He categorizes all Greek Cypriots as hating Turks. What an absurd statement to make by a Turkish columnist who is clearly throwing up a smoke screen. Maybe Mr. Birand can tell us which group of people actually enjoy being forcefully displaced?

If you ever have read articles on Cyprus from certain sites...it’s a sure bet you have come across advertisement on buying property from Northern Cyprus. I recently read an article where I was bombarded with adds to such an extent that I had a hard time reading the article itself. Before you sense financial gain, here is another sure bet...you run the risk of losing all your money exploring such an endeavor. According to official records from the RoC, ownership of private land property in the North belongs by 82% to Greek Cypriots. Heartened by support from the European court of human rights...thousands of Greek Cypriots are launching legal proceedings that are now pending before ECHR. As a result, you may discover that what you really hold is a worthless title deed.

Just read an article that was picked up by several news wires. This article was about Turkish Cypriot Football players stripping off clothing in protest of the embargo. A publicity stunt organized by Huseyin Caglayan. He happens to be a UK fashion designer said the article. Mr. Huseyin said “This campaign is about human rights, not politics.” So “Balls to Embargoes!” is a human rights issue and not some perverted fetish he may have…very well then. Tell us when your campaign relating to Turkey’s embargo on Armenia will begin. Yes...Turkey, the only democratic country in the entire world that has a trade embargo on Armenia. Showing once again it will do as it pleases even if it means disregarding international norm. Speaking of the Caucuses…lets focus in on Armenia’s neighbor Azerbaijan. It seems that the election held in Azerbaijan a couple of weeks back had some voting irregularities to say it mildly. This however was never picked up by news wires…no, instead we have “Balls to Embargoes!” This only proves to show that there is a double standard when it comes to this region.

The Turkish daily news recently had an article suggesting Talat erect a bust of the President of Cyprus next to the bridge on the Turkish side of Ledra Street. We can read the excitement displayed from author Yusuf Kanli in his entire article. The wall is coming down but the Greek Cypriots led by Tassos administration in southern Cyprus refuse. See world, they don’t want peace so recognize TRNC quickly…hilarious. The position of the Cypriot government is clear but not to Yusuf. The Cypriots are asking that there be no Turkish Troops present in the newly constructed area in the buffer zone. So will the Turks compromise on the new Cypriot proposal or will they continue taking matters into their own hands?

Ledra deadlock drags on
UNFICYP slams Turkish side
as Cyprus makes new proposals

By Alex Efthyvoulos
THE UN Peace Force slammed the Turkish side yesterday for persisting in acting unilaterally through the construction of a bridge at the proposed new Ledra Street crossing point, a move that has resulted in a deadlock and the cancellation of the opening.

The strong UN criticism coincided with fresh proposals by the Cyprus government to break the deadlock that has blocks progress toward the opening of the crossing point. The government continues to want the opening of the crossing point to facilitate contacts between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and its proposals are designed to make this possible, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides told his daily briefing.

A statement by UNFICYP said that the opening of the crossing point "pre-supposed the parties mutual agreement on a work plan and schedule and a joint commitment to proceed. Instead, the Turkish side opted to act pre-emptively to execute its project (the bridge building), and persists in acting unilaterally toward an objective that by definition must be bilateral."

"UNFICYP must point out that, regrettably, unilateral initiatives are incompatible with the spirit of the confidence building-measures that have driven the carefully coordinated effort since April 2003 to promote and ensure the opening of crossing points on the island."

I remember reading a Turkish news article that talked about Turkey's accession to the European Union. The article complained about possible brief restriction on Turks moving westward into the bloc once Turkey joins. The Turkish article hammered away ... the E.U. is a restricted private club. Interestingly enough ... no mention was made in that article on Turkey pushing for and receiving even harder restrictions on Greek Cypriots going to the North as envisioned in the Annan Plan. Now we see that it’s the credibility of the E.U. that keeps the Turkish FM awake at night. Wasn't Turkey's EU accession suppose to set the country on a course of dramatic transformation? Wasn’t Turkey suppose to normalize relations with its neighbors, particularly with Greece, Armenia and Cyprus before it joins the union? Turkey, a country that has violated UN and SC resolutions now numbering over 120, is worried about the credibility of the EU. The hypocrisy of it all...


From the Cihan News Agency:

Published: Friday, December 09, 2005
zaman.com

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul urged the European Union to aid solving the problem in Cyprus.

"The EU should just help to solve the problem but should not exhibit an attitude which promotes non-solution. This will damage its credibility," Gul told a Brussels news conference on Thursday.

F.A.Q.


(1) What is the purpose of this site?

This site was created so that I may express my thoughts and ideation without the flaming and spamming you currently are greeted with on most forums relating to the issue of Cyprus.

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