Washington is Pressing Turkey on the Ghost Town of Varosha

(incyprus.philenews.com) - Washington is pressing Turkey to allow experts funded by the US to carry out reports on how the ghost town of Varosha can be transformed into a livable eco-friendly resort.

But the Turkish side continues to raise conditions that cannot be met, insiders told The Cyprus Weekly yesterday.

"They won't even allow the experts funded exclusively by the US to get in and start the project which will take at least six to nine months to be completed, anyway," one source said.

"They want to get conditions met first, and their conditions seem to always lead to the same unacceptable demand for recognition (of the breakaway regime in Turkish-held north)," added the inside source.

One of the Turkish demands is that Famagusta port comes under their control once it opens, and not under the European Union's as proposed by President Anastasiades.

Also, when it comes to the occupied airport of Tymbou or 'Ercan', Nicosia agrees to its full operation but under the condition that it is under the Cyprus Republic's FIR.

Except for the last 20 kilometres when it would be under Turkish Cypriot guidance and this is due to safety reasons and a standard procedure for most regional airports.

"For example, a plane landing in Perth, Australia, is under the FIR of the federal state until it is 20 kilometres away from its destination. Then it comes under Perth, Western Australia's FIR, for safety reasons," an informed source said.

Anastasiades insists on the immediate return of Famagusta to its lawful Greek Cypriot inhabitants and its re-opening under UN and EU auspices. He argues that this is a confidence-building measure that will certainly boost recently re-launched UN-brokered efforts to reunite the island.

A master plan on the re-opening of the port city - whose infrastructure has crumbled over the years - was drafted by the island's Technical Chamber a few years back.

But technocrats agree that the Chamber's master plan would need to be updated.

Nonetheless, the Chamber has been kept completely in the dark when it comes to this new initiative by the US, informed sources said.  

"A group of US experts were on the island recently, visiting Famagusta and holding workshops but that's all we know, the Chamber was not asked to contribute with ideas or relevant information," a source said.

European Parliament calls for the withdrawal of occupation troops from Cyprus

The European Parliament has urged Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus, return the fenced-off city of Famagusta to its legal owners, end the flow of illegal settlers in the occupied part of Cyprus and implement the Ankara Protocol.

In a resolution on the 2012 progress report on Turkey, members of the European Parliament expressed once again their strong support for the reunification of Cyprus, based on a fair and viable settlement for both communities.

The resolution was adopted on Thursday by the European Parliament plenary session by 451 votes in favour, 105 against and 45 abstentions.

The resolution underlined the urgent need for an agreement between the two communities on how to proceed with substantive settlement negotiations, so that the negotiating process, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, can soon regain momentum.

Furthermore it urged Turkey to begin withdrawing its forces its troops from Cyprus and to transfer the sealed-off area of Famagusta to the UN in accordance with UNSC Resolution 550 (1984).

MEPs called on Turkey to refrain, in accordance with the principles of international law, from any new settlement of Turkish citizens in Cyprus, as this would continue to change the demographic balance and reduce the allegiance of its citizens on the island to a future common state based on its common past;

They deplored Turkey’s refusal to fulfill its obligation of full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the EC-Turkey Association Agreement towards all Member States and recalls that this refusal continues to have a profound effect on the negotiation process.

MEPs expressed their regret hat Turkey had "missed an important opportunity to start a process of engagement and normalisation of relations with Cyprus" during the Cypriot Presidency of the Council.

The resolution stressed that progress towards the normalisation of Turkey’s relations with the Republic of Cyprus is urgently needed in order to give new momentum to the EU-Turkey accession negotiations.

The resolution also called on the Government of Turkey to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) without further delay and recalled the full legitimacy of the Republic of Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone, in accordance with UNCLOS.

A pro-Turkish lobby failed to include amendments in the resolution aiming at giving to Turkish Cypriots the status of observers at the European Parliament and opening direct trade between the Turkish-occupied area of Cyprus and the EU.

(KYPE)

German Chancellor Merkel urges Turkey to open its ports to ships and planes from Cyprus

SELCAN HACAOGLU, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

March 29, 2010 10:10 a.m.

(Metronews.ca) - ANKARA, Turkey - German Chancellor Angela Merkel is stressing that Turkey should open its ports to ships and planes from Cyprus, which is a member of the European Union.

Turkey began EU membership talks in 2005 but some areas of negotiation are frozen because Turkey refuses to allow ships and planes from Cyprus to enter its ports and airspace.

Merkel has said Turkey should be given a "privileged partnership" that falls short of full EU membership. She said Monday that the matter of Cyprus "must be "addressed."

Turkey insists that what it calls an unofficial trade embargo on the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state be lifted.

Prominent Greek Americans send letter to President Obama and VP Biden

Greek American leaders send letter on the eve of the White House Greek Independence Day Celebration asking US leaders to reverse decision of administration officials to meet with Mr. Talat.

The letter:

March 20, 2009
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The Honorable Joseph Biden
Vice President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Obama and Vice President Biden:
It has come to our attention that certain officials in your Administration are considering actions that are on the verge of extending the Bush Administration doctrine even further by establishing a Cyprus policy that contradicts both of your clearly articulated views on the issue. Please intervene before they cause America problems that will take years to correct.

Your Administration has not yet held high level contacts with either the President or the Foreign Minister of Cyprus. Thus, we are shocked to learn from a statement by the Turkish-Cypriot spokesman in Cyprus that they are now on the verge of establishing this Administration’s de facto recognition of an illegal entity in Cyprus’ militarily occupied area, while ignoring the internationally recognized Cyprus government. We understand that they plan to do this through high level Administration meetings with the leader of the pseudo-state before meetings with the President or Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus.

You said to us in 2007, Mr. President, that America was “able to rely on Cyprus in the War on Terror and we were able to rely on Cyprus during the Lebanon Crisis.” Cyprus again demonstrated its support for U.S. security efforts by recently stopping an arms shipment from Iran to Hamas at U.S. urging. The last time Cyprus took such an action, Syria retaliated by taking a step toward de facto recognition of the occupied area of Cyprus by establishing ferry boat service to the north. If the people in your Administration follow through with these meetings, particularly before meeting with the government of Cyprus, our country will have punished Cyprus in the same way Syria did, by taking a step toward de facto recognition of the occupied area.

We know that you want, as you said to us, a “solution to the situation in Cyprus…based on the rule of law, not on force, one that is based on UN resolutions passed on the Cyprus issue, and on the very principles and standards of the EU….” Yet, the occupied area of Cyprus, with which your people are aligning you, is an anathema to those principles -- forced into place by more Turkish troops on that little island than America has in Afghanistan. Such de facto recognition will further solidify Turkish insistence on unreasonable Cyprus settlement provisions that virtually all Democrats on the Senate European Affairs Subcommittee objected to and which even a majority of the Republicans on that Subcommittee called “unacceptable to western democracies” in a letter to President Bush.

We understand that the Administration supports Turkey’s eventual accession into the European Union, as does the Republic of Cyprus. Pursuing anything that suggests de facto recognition of the occupation regime would not only be contrary to countless UN Security Council resolutions, but it would perhaps force the Republic of Cyprus to reconsider its stance with regard to Turkey and the EU.

Please overturn these misguided actions by people in your Administration. The Greek-American community that has been so committed to your Presidency and Vice Presidency, and the hope that they believed it would bring to the militarily occupied nation of Cyprus, will be devastated.

Sincerely,

Andrew A. Athens
Philip Christopher
Andy Manatos
Peter Papanicolaou
Nikos Mouyiaris
George Tsunis
Tasos Zambas
Endy Zemenides
Zenon Christodoulou
George Dovellos
Michael Galanakis

Slaves & EU’s Prestige

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy is currently in Ankara to help revive stalled talks to reunite Cyprus. The Turkish daily Zaman today talks about the meeting Mr. Philippe Douste-Blazy had with his Turkish counterpart.

Speaking at a joint press conference following their meeting, Mr. Gul mentioned that he briefed Mr. Douste-Blazy on the new action plan for Cyprus. Mr. Gul also brought up the issue of direct trade between the EU and Northern Cyprus. The Turkish daily Zaman, quoting the Turkish Foreign Minister, stated ... “Do not be a slave to the Greeks,” what a nonsensical statement. Mr. Gul went on to say that “Greeks block the regulations, which destroy the EU’s prestige.” He said that Turkey is willing to fulfill its commitments and that the EU should also fulfill its commitments to Northern Cyprus.

Mr. Gul is seeking direct trade between the EU and the breakaway statelet in the occupied north. Turkey's Foreign Minister also wants Northern Cyprus to have the ability of participating in various international organizations and sporting events. How do proposals like these help reunify the island? Can Mr. Gul tell us exactly what he means by reunification (for Cyprus) which he allegedly aspires to and promotes? Can anyone point to a Turkish proposal that does not insist on a settlement based on the continued separation of the two communities?

Highlights of the Proposal

Did i call it or what?

From The Turkish Daily Hurriyet

Some of the highlights of the Ankara document sent to Annan are as follows:

*****A call for renewed efforts to work on the Annan plan for Cyprus from all sides. The Annan plan was rejected by the Greek side of the island in a referendum, but the Ankara document calls for its re-enlivening.

*****A call for the EU to bring about the promises of direct trade and aid made to Northern Cyprus prior to the Greek referendum.

*****A call for preparations to be made in order to bring about direct trade possibilities with Northern Cyprus for any country which wishes. Isolationary measures placed on Northern Cypriot ports and airports should be lifted according to this too.

*****A reassurance that, following these measures, restrictions against Greek Cypriot use of Northern Cypriot ports and airports will also be lifted.

Diplomatic timing crucial

According to diplomatic sources, both the US and England have put their full support behind this document.

As you can see, President Papadopoulos was correct when he hinted that the British Government was seeking to upgrade the breakaway statelet with Foreign Minister Straw's visit to the North. That is why the government was adamant about a neutral venue for the meeting.

New Proposal

It has now been confirmed by several Turkish News Agencies that a “new” proposal on Cyprus will be announced by Ankara tomorrow. The authors of this proposal would have us believe that it is purely coincidental that this plan is being announced on the very same day Foreign Minister Jack Straw arrives in the region. This proposal is not new ... Turkey, for quite some time now has made it clear that the opening of Turkish ports to Cypriot vessels will only occur if direct trade is rewarded to the breakaway statelet. Be weary of press reports tomorrow that praise this “new” proposal. Cypriot officials who will speak with Foreign Minister Straw should make it clear that any new proposal will not be linked to Turkey's obligation in implementing the customs union protocol with Cyprus.

Ankara's Policy Change

The Turkish daily Hurriyet is announcing a major policy change on Cyprus from Ankara “...Ankara has presented a proposal to Kofi Annan of the United Nations, which states that Greek Cypriot ships will be for the first time in 31 years allowed to enter Turkish ports.” The daily goes on to say that the proposal contains “reciprocal concessions” but did not specify exactly what this meant. The Turkish public will be informed of this new proposal on Tuesday. Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will be visiting Cyprus on Tuesday where he will meet with Mr. Talat. The Foreign Minister is also expected to visit Turkey where talks will be dominated by the Cypriot issue. It certainly is becoming clear what all these meetings are about ... it is for Britain to support and promote direct trade with the Northern breakaway statelet. In return, Cypriot ships would be allowed to enter Turkish ports. If this indeed is accurate, it would solidify the division of the island. Please view my post below titled “Guarantees” to read what Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Abdullatif Sener said about the opening of Turkish ports to Cypriot ships.

Aid Package

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.

Guarantees

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.

Direct Trade

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?