Press Releases, Statements, Notes/Articles and Letters INITIATIVE BY TURKEY ON CYPRUS, 24 JANUARY 2006 Cyprus a reminder CYPRUS: WHAT HAS HAPPENED? Highlights of the UNSG´s report Cyprus (Historical Overview) What the World Said Before the Referanda What the World said After the Referanda The Annan Plan and the Greek Cypriot “NO”: False Reasons and Claims Greek Cypriot state terror revealed Confidence Building Measures (1992-1994) Meaningful Anniversary Of The Cyprus Peace Operation Turkish Parliament Proclaims Solidarity With TRNC And Demands Equal Treatment For The Two States On The Island Resolution By The Turkish Grand National Assembly On 21 January 1997 Circular Note Sent To The Embassies Of The EU Member States Concerning The Greek Cypriot Application To The EU, 30 June 1997 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the establishment of an Association Council Resolution Adopted By The Legislative Assembly of The TRNC March 9, 1998 Aide-Memoire By The TRNC To The British High Commission In Nicosia, 26 March 1998 Documents Given By President Denktas To The UN Secretary-General During Their Meeting In Geneva- 28 March 1998 Resolution of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, 15 July 1999 Treaty Provisions And Basic Documents With Regard To The EU Membership Of Cyprus British Professor of International Law Prof. H. Mendelson Q.C.'s opinion on the legal aspects of the one-sided membership application of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus to the European Union Final communique of the annual coordination meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference ( United Nations, New York 28 September 2004, 14 Shaa'ban 1425 H - para. related to Cyprus) Report of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan on his Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus, 28 May 2004 Report of the Secretary-General Annan on the United Nations operation in in Cyprus, 3 December 2007 The Status of the Two Peoples in Cyprus Edited By Necati Münir Ertekün Greek Cypriot Attempts To Purchase Missiles From Russia And The Resulting Danger For The Peace And Stability In Cyprus EU and Cyprus:An Expert View Opinion of Professor M.H. Mendelson Q.C on the Application of “the Republic of Cyprus” to Join the European Union Grand Deception, Korkmaz HAKTANIR, Founding Member of the Cyprus Foundation '' BARBARIE A CHYPRE '' Le Soir Illustré 1967 The Need for New Perspective on Cyprus
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  5. Letter By The Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of The Republic Of Turkey, Addressed To The Ministers Of Foreign Affairs Of EU Member Countries Concerning The Greek Cypriot Application To The EU, 15 July 1997
Letter By The Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of The Republic Of Turkey, Addressed To The Ministers Of Foreign Affairs Of EU Member Countries Concerning The Greek Cypriot Application To The EU, 15 July 1997

Ankara, July 15, 1997

Dear Colleague,

As you well know, the Turkish Government has supported the resumption of direct talks between the leaders of the two Communities in Cyprus under the mission of good offices of the UN Secretary General and has encouraged the Turkish Cypriot side to participate in these talks with a constructive and positive understanding.

In view of our mutual interest in a political settlement in Cyprus, I wish to share with you our genuine concern over the recent reports we have been receiving from Brussels that the "Agenda 2000" document being finalized by the EU Commission proposes that membership negotiations begin in early 1998 with five CEES and "Cyprus". Such a report could have serious repercussions on the search for a negotiated settlement in the Island.

The Turkish position on the EU membership of Cyprus is reflected in the Joint Declaration signed by the President of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on 20 January 1997 in Ankara which states that:

"The Turkish side will consider the start of accession negotiation between the Greek Cypriot administration and the EU, based on the unilateral application of the Greek Cypriot side for full membership in contravention of international law, as the complete abolition of the framework and parameters for a solution which have emerged during the negotiating process in Cyprus. Each and every unilateral step to be taken by the Greek Cypriot Administration towards the EU membership will accelerate the integration process between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".

This Joint declaration was endorsed by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in its entirety through a unanimous decision adopted on 21 January 1997 which stated that:

"The unilateral application of the Greek Cypriot Administration for membership in the European Union is contrary to the 1960 Treaties. The realization of such membership will only pave the way to the division of Cyprus and the responsibility will belong to the European Union"

Furthermore, the President of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in their Statement to the Press issued on 4 July 1997, stated that:

"By virtue of the 1960 Treaties, an internal balance between the two communities in Cyprus, on the one hand, and an external balance between Turkey and Greece, on the basis of their rights and obligations, on the other, have been established. The external balance in question is an integral part of the regional peace and stability. The 1960 Treaties stipulate that Cyprus cannot join any international political or economic union of which both Turkey and Greece are not members. according to the dictates of international law and regional peace and stability, Cyprus can only become a full member of the EU after a settlement which will comprise these principles and once Turkey has become a member as well. Each step the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus takes on the road to EU membership, on the basis of its unilateral application in contravention of international law, will accelerate the integration process between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."

On this issue, in addition to the well-founded reservations made by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to the EU regarding the unilateral Greek Cypriot application for full membership, Turkey has expressed, as one of the guarantor powers, its strong objection during the successive phases of the application, Commission Opinion, the endorsement of this opinion by the Council, and most recently through its Note of 30 June 1997 addressed to the EU member states.

The Commission Report, excluding Turkey at this stage from the enlargement process of the EU on the one hand, and reconfirming that accession negotiations with "Cyprus" will start early next year on the other, flagrantly contravenes the clear stipulations of the 1960 Treaties.

It is in this light that we totally share the Turkish Cypriot view that the direct negotiating process which has just been resumed between the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot leaders can no longer produce positive results and become useless.

In case the position of the EU Commission on the membership negotiations with "Cyprus" is formalized in its "Agenda 2000" report this will compel Turkey as a guarantor power to take appropriate corresponding action.

İsmail CEM
Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic
of Turkey