Putin admits TRNC isolation should end
Cyprus Times
June 21, 2005
 |
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Black Sea resort of Sochi. One pressing topic of discussion is why Russia blocked the latest Cyprus report prepared by the UN secretary-general. Moscow once supported the Annan plan, and Ankara believes that Russians can play an active role in the international community to help Turkey end the isolation of Turkish Cyprus. This meeting marks the fourth visit between Erdogan and Putin since last December.
Russian President Putin said economic isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should be ended and has reportedly signaled for concrete steps to be taken in this regard.
Putin noted that the “meaningless” embargo imposed on TRNC must be lifted and that his country will have direct contacts with both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot societies on the island. The two leaders emphasized their opinions overlapped on many issues.
“The first thing we must do is to solve the problem of economic isolation on one part of the island, to create conditions for establishing normal links between the island's two parts and, to lay a foundation for exhaustive normalization in the interests of all residents of the island,” Putin remarked. The Russian news agency Interfax quoted Putin as, expressing Russian support for Annan's initiative by saying, “We are absolutely convinced that the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan is moving in the right direction.” |
Putin reassured Russia would begin ties with both the Greek and Turkish Cyprus. His announcements indicate Russia vetoing Annan's report against the Greek Cypriot side in 2004 would concretely change its policy regarding Cyprus issue. But with Russia's deep economic ties in the south, one wonders how far Putin is willing to annoy his Greek Cypriot friends on behalf of Turkish Cypriots.
Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou, however, remains confinced that the Russian Federation's policy on Cyprus will not change, adding that the policy was fully explained during the Russian Foreign Minister's visit to Cyprus.
Commenting on a statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the necessity to lift the “isolation'” of Turkish Cypriots, after a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iacovou said after Putin's statements, “We held contacts at a very high level and I have absolutely no qualms.” So what is the truth of the matter, one wonders.
|
