Cyprus-Forum.com

[T_C]

DUYGU GÜVENÇ
ANKARA Turkish Daily News


Losing hope that the European Union will abolish sanctions against northern Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots are trying to find an alternative way out of isolation by opening new trade offices and establishing bilateral relations with the members of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

“Cyprus is not the only problem in the world and we cannot wait for the EU to act. If it is a dead-end-street it is meaningless to urge the EU to change its approach. There are also different ways to reach the end of the road,” said Turgay Avcı, foreign minister of northern Cyprus, to the Turkish Daily News.

The minister noted that the decisions taken during the 34th foreign ministers' meeting of OIC in Islamabad in May 15-17 was a turning point for northern Cyprus. The OIC, which is the second largest international organization in the world after the United Nations, recognized the term ‘Northern Cyprus State' last year. Avcı stressed that the term was mentioned also in four different decisions during the foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad last week.

New Turkish Cypriot trade offices to be opened

Avcı explained that he has lost hope in the efforts of EU president Germany to find a compromise in accepting the direct trade regulations with northern Cyprus.

He said that from now on northern Cyprus would focus on developing trade relations with Muslim countries. As a part of the new strategy northern Cyprus is opening four trade and tourism offices in Muslim countries in the near future. Avcı did not reveal the locations of the new offices fearing that it would lead to counter efforts by the Greek Cypriots.

“Our representatives will pay a visit to the missions next week,” said Turgay Avcı adding that four or five foreign ministers from Muslim countries would visit to northern Cyprus in the following days.

Recalling the trip of Turkish Cypriot businessmen to Kuwait last week, Avci said that northern Cyprus would soon start exporting hellim cheese, citrus fruits, olives and olive oil.

The minister also said that he had held bilateral talks with more than ten OIC member states in Islamabad. Over these conversations Avcı had discussed the visa problems Turkish Cypriots are facing and also touched on the acceptance of northern Cyprus passports as valid travel documents in Muslim countries.



A message to Ki Moon

During the conference in Islamabad Avcı also met with the U.N. Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari. Through him Avcı sent a message to Ban Ki Moon, the secretary general of the U.N.

“The U.N. must give a message to the Greek Cypriots that their leader is not on the right path,” Avcı explained.



OIC meets in Cyprus for tourism

Later this year the OIC will hold a tourism symposium in northern Cyprus, to be attended by the tourism ministers of Muslim countries. “We opened an exhibition in the Lok Virsa Culture and Art Museum,” said Avcı.

Greek Cypriots observe the developments

Four ambassadors from the Greek Cyprus followed the OIC summit, who, according to Avcı, did not succeed in preventing the acceptance of the term “Turkish Cypriot State.”

According to Avcı, Greek Cypriot ambassadors and consuls to Riyadh, Islamabad and Peking were in the conference hall during the summit.

During the OIC foreign ministers summit in Baku last year Greek Cypriot ambassador to Moscow, Leonidas Pantelides, could not find a hotel to stay because Baku refused his accreditation request.


Bakoyannis tries to detain

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis stated in an interview that 2008 would be a good year for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. In his response Avcı stated that the Greeks are trying to play time in order to put a stop to a comprehensive solution in the island. “We are ready for negotiations but if they have to wait until 2008, we will continue our way,” said the Turkish Cypriot Minister.

[bigOz]

When TRNC starts getting recognised soon and the reality of partition hits our neighbours, they might then feel sorry for not listening to TC voices before, but just as always it will be too late!

[DT.]

When TRNC starts getting recognised soon and the reality of partition hits our neighbours, they might then feel sorry for not listening to TC voices before, but just as always it will be too late!

if so called "Turkish flag posting TC's" like you are the messengers then considered yourself ignored.

[observer]

It's through ignoring TCs (and recently much of the rest of the world) that has got the situation to the point where it is difficult to see how there can now be any agreement. As a result GCs get nothing; TCs gradually improve their life style.

I say this not to boast, not because I want it, but because I see it as the present reality. We could both do much better together.

[T_C]

It's through ignoring TCs (and recently much of the rest of the world) that has got the situation to the point where it is difficult to see how there can now be any agreement. As a result GCs get nothing; TCs gradually improve their life style.

I say this not to boast, not because I want it, but because I see it as the present reality. We could both do much better together.

I agree 100000000000000000000000000000% with you observer!!!!!!!!

I want nothing more than to unite but the stratergy RoC has taken over the years has done nothing but bring us towards partition.

The RoC has ensured that almost all of the GC population is hell bent on waiting for/wanting something thats just never likely to happen, specially considering their tactics over the years...and since it's all or nothing at the end I fear they will be left with nothing (and I really do care by the way!) when TCs move on.

I just don't know to be honest, I don't think it's going to make a bit of difference what I say

The "Hellenic Republic of Cyprus" is NOT the way forward...its like taking 10000 steps back for God sakes....acceptance of/AND equality is the way forward!

[Piratis]

Who ever talked about "Hellenic Republic of Cyprus"?

What we want is simple: Our rights and nothing more.

We don't want you land, we don't you to sacrifice your rights, we don't want anything more than any decent EU citizen should have in his own country: Human rights and democracy.

Cyprus can only do so much, then the wall of 40.000 Turkish troops stop it from doing anything more than that. And you blame Cyprus and not Turkish troops? Ridiculous!

[T_C]

Ridiculous is you thinking the troops are going anywhere without a settlement. If you want your rights then tell your president to do whats best for his people and start to negotiate instead of trying to hold out Piratis...

[bigOz]

Who ever talked about "Hellenic Republic of Cyprus"?

What we want is simple: Our rights and nothing more.

We don't want you land, we don't you to sacrifice your rights, we don't want anything more than any decent EU citizen should have in his own country: Human rights and democracy.

Cyprus can only do so much, then the wall of 40.000 Turkish troops stop it from doing anything more than that. And you blame Cyprus and not Turkish troops? Ridiculous!

Who told you there are no human rights in TRNC? Or that democracy in the South exists more than it does in the North?

The only human rights violations we get are those imposed on us by the Greek Cypriot government regarding travel and trade! Why should a TC not be able to get on a flight from London to North Cyprus direct? Is it harming Turkey? No? In fact it is earning a fortune for Turkish airlines. Some object to the sight of a Turkish flag (because there are no TRNC avatars I can use in this forum), and yet prefer that TCs suffer benefiting Turkey! WORK THAT ONE OUT IF YOU CAN!

[Piratis]

You ethnically cleansed all GCs from the occupied areas and then you say that you do not violate the human rights of those people? so if we ethnically cleanse all TCs from Cyprus (which are less than the GCs you ethnically cleansed) can we then say that there is no human right violation?

Ridiculous is you thinking the troops are going anywhere without a settlement. If you want your rights then tell your president to do whats best for his people and start to negotiate instead of trying to hold out Piratis...

We were negotiating for ages. Have you at any point accepted a solution that would allow GCs to regain their lands and human rights?

[bigOz]

You ethnically cleansed all GCs from the occupied areas and then you say that you do not violate the human rights of those people? so if we ethnically cleanse all TCs from Cyprus (which are less than the GCs you ethnically cleansed) can we then say that there is no human right violation?

Ridiculous is you thinking the troops are going anywhere without a settlement. If you want your rights then tell your president to do whats best for his people and start to negotiate instead of trying to hold out Piratis...

We were negotiating for ages. Have you at any point accepted a solution that would allow GCs to regain their lands and human rights?

You are using ethnic cleansing within a wrong context. Most Greeks had run away for fear of being killed by the Turkish troops rather than forced by the military to move. It took place in a small time framework, and subsequently 34000 Turkish Cypriots were moved to TRNC from the British bases they took cover during the war. It was more of a population exchange rather than "ethnic cleansing".

As you will se from our intended discussion of Cyprus history, "ethnic cleansing" was in fact attempted by EOKA betweeen 1963-67 and then by Cyprus Government policies until 1974. Initially bu murdering of women, children, young, elderly indiscriminately and burying them in mass graves. No such activity was carried out by TCs.

Later the Greek Cypriot government actively encouraged departure of TCs to other places like Australia and Europe using economic pressure and embargoes. More so by assisting Australian High Comission in setting up special offices to deal quickly with any TCs who wished to emigrate to Australia - many thousands did!

You are referring to the consequences of the 1974 war with total disregard as to why it took place and what the alternatives would have been, and naming the movement of the population as Human Rights violations. OK just to please you, it did happen, but it happened to both sides as the consequence of war - and no one else in the world except GCs call it "ethnic cleansing". But I can show you many examples of what happened to TCs previously as being called "ethnic cleansing" in the forign media.

I hope we shall deal with this in our proposed discussion so let us just call it a truce for now and see how we get along...