Recognise the new Cyprus Republic
Cyprus Times Front Page
September 7, 2005
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President Mehmet Ali Talat said that Turkey would be much better off if it was to recognise a new Cyprus Republic that would realise after a solution has been found to the Cyprus problem rather than the current administration.
“The objective, should have been to open EU membership for a reunified Cyprus after a solution had been found”
“The Greek Cypriot side’s insistence on gaining Turkey’s recognition is absolutely meaningless, and is surely doomed to be fruitless”
“The opening of the ports and airports is technically an issue falling under the ‘services sector’ which is it self, an outside topic so-far as the Customs’ Union is concerned.
“Everybody knows that the Greek Cypriot leader is not interested in a solution to the Cyprus problem; but in spreading and extending his sovereignty to North Cyprus”.
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The President responded to questions in a Bayrak Radio Television interview on the recent developments on the Cyprus issue and Turkey’s relations with the European Union in the light of the forthcoming start of Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union.
Reminding that he had warned that the Cyprus issue would become a serious hurdle in front of Turkey getting closer to the European Union, the TRNC President said it would be wrong to look at this problem as a new “hot potato” in the hands of Turkey.
“The objective, should have been to open EU membership for a reunified Cyprus after a solution had been found” he said, “an objective, that first was prevented by the Turkish side, and then by the Greek Cypriot side” he continued.
“What is so abnormal, is not Turkey’s non-recognition of a divided Cyprus; but the EU’s decision to admit such a divided country as a member” he stressed. “It is my opinion that the European Union has been looking for a solution to all this, at the wrong place. So, instead of looking for a solution in the form of Turkey granting recognition to Cyprus, they should be looking for a solution on the ground, in Cyprus itself” he said “This new problem will only be resolved with a solution being found to the Cyprus problem, and Turkey recognizing what-will-be the new Cyprus Republic, then” he added.
Repeating his view that it is out of question for Turkey to grant diplomatic recognition to the Cyprus Republic as its stands now, the President said that such a development will lead to a series of violations of the Turkish Cypriot people’s rights.
“The Greek Cypriot side’s insistence on gaining Turkey’s recognition is absolutely meaningless, and is surely doomed to be fruitless” the TRNC President warned.
As for the opening of Turkey’s sea and air ports to the Greek Cypriot vessels and aircrafts, Mr Talat said this could only happen simultaneously with the Greek Cypriot side lifting its own ban on the ports and airports in North Cyprus. As for the scheduled meeting on Wednesday of the EU’s Committee of Permanent Representatives, and what should one expect out of this meeting; the TRNC President said he expects only a unanimous text to be extracted from this meeting – which will definitely not include a phrase calling on Turkey to recognize the Cyprus Republic. He also drew the attention to the fact that the decisions of the COREPER, as the committee is known, are not binding and have no sanctioning power. “Also”, he said, “the opening of the ports and airports is technically an issue falling under the “services sector”; which is itself, an outside topic so-far as the Customs’ Union is concerned. Asked, what he thinks about the planned visit to New York by the Greek Cypriot leader Mr Papadopoulos; the TRNC President said “everybody knows that the Greek Cypriot leader is not interested in a solution to the Cyprus problem; but in spreading and extending his sovereignty to North Cyprus”.
The President of the Republic also responded to criticism coming from within the TRNC in which, some opposition figures accused the current government of “not trying to secure Turkish Cypriots’ rights vested in the 1960 Republic of Cyprus constitution and agreements”. “Why should we consider returning to those rights, which are surely and clearly backward then what we are today. Those may only be considered as minimum rights, as we are today governing ourselves. And don’t forget that standing UN Security Council resolutions envisage a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution to the Cyprus problem which is, in effect, something like the current situation on the island” he said.
“It is not only not correct to propose a return to the Republic of Cyprus; but also an infringement of the standing UN Security Council Resolutions” he said, reminding that “although these resolutions have recognized the Cyprus Republic’s de-facto position as the legitimate government of Cyprus; they have also envisaged a bizonal federation. “This, in itself, amounts to telling everyone that the current situation is not the final envisaged state-of-affairs on the island” he said. |
