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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Cyprus a reminder

October 2004

CYPRUS:   a     reminder… 

 

I. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? : 

What Did the Turkish Side Do?

-Took the initiative to re-launch the process of negotiations,
-Truly negotiated, and displayed its will to engage in a give-and-take exercise,
 -Heeded the calls of the international community to accept a solution that
  conforms to the established UN parameters,
 -Approved the Annan Plan, despite the sacrifices it entailed. 

 What Did the Greek Cypriot Side Do?

 -Initially, tried to avoid reactivation of the negotiation exercise before 1 May 2004,
 -Tried hard to stall the negotiations, by filibustering,
 -Demanded its numerous amendments to the Plan be fully met,
 -Strongly campaigned against the Plan and the referendum, applying even
  undemocratic methods,
 -Showed the World that it was not ready to accept a partnership
  within a system envisaged and supported by the UN Security Council,
 -Also showed the World that its main objective was to remain as the ‘sole’
  representative of the Island and join the EU as such. 

 What the World Said and Promised?

 -That what the Greek Cypriots did was wrong,
 -That it was regrettable that the Island could not join the EU as reunified,
 -That the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey were to be commended, as they fulfilled
  their responsibilities towards the international community,
 -That the Turkish Cypriots should no longer suffer from a situation that emerged
  after the referenda since it was no fault of their own,
 -That a fundamentally altered situation in Cyprus had emerged which also
  necessitated a new approach towards the solution of the issue,
 -That nothing further could be expected from Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.  

II. THE CURRENT SITUATION

Embargoes and Restrictions
 
- At the UN: Due to the hesitations of some members of the Security Council, the UN Secretary-General’s report could not be endorsed. (It is rare, at the UN, that the Security Council avoids giving a positive reaction to a report of the Secretary-General.)

- At the EU: Despite the Commission’s and Council’s strongly worded statements last April, the EU is yet to take a concrete step towards the Turkish Cypriots.   

 The Greek Cypriot Attitude

- Blocking every positive move towards the Turkish Cypriots in the UN and EU,
 -Making proposals that are in fact non applicable, in order to create a smoke-
  screen and  thus divert the attention of the international community from itself to
  the Turkish side,
 -Making additional demands from the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, as if the
  responsibility of the failure of the settlement process did not solely belong to
  the Greek Cypriots,
 -Giving strong indications that it will use its full membership in the EU to the
  detriment of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot Side.

 The Turkish Cypriot  State of Mind

 -Despite the promises, calls and decisions, the World has failed to reach out to the
  Turkish Cypriots,
 -The international community has not held the Greek Cypriots accountable for
  torpedoing the globally supported comprehensive settlement plan,
 -Yet, already there are signs of an expectation from the Turkish Cypriot side to further accommodate the Greek Cypriots,
 -Certain amount of dismay, disappointment and frustration are prevailing in Northern Cyprus. 

III. WHAT COULD BE DONE? : 

-The EU could approve the two Regulations, as submitted by the Commission. The two constitute a package of measures and thus should be approved together.
-The UN Security Council could adopt a resolution endorsing the UN Secretary-General’s call to eliminate restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots. (UNSG’s Report, para.93)
-Bilaterally, the members of the international community should directly extend a helping hand to the Turkish Cypriots, so that they no longer feel isolated.