Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

'When diplomatic efforts are exhausted other alternatives are put on the table. We clearly see this in Kosovo where diplomacy proved futile and other formulas are floating around. This will certainly have an impact on Cyprus,' says a senior Turkish Cypriot official
The ongoing negotiations over the status of Kosovo that have thus far proven futile as the province is proceeding toward independence may pave the way for Turkey's friends in the European Union to come up with alternative initiatives to end the isolation of northern Cyprus, said the Turkish Cypriot president's special envoy late Tuesday.

“Everyone sees 2008 as the last window of opportunity for a solution to the Cyprus problem and especially Turkey's friends in the EU are pressuring the Greek Cypriots not to accept the status quo and to back initiatives for a settlement, and warning other alternatives could be on the agenda otherwise,” Özdil Nami told the Turkish Daily News during an exclusive telephone interview. Nami was appointed by Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat last month to chair negotiations with the EU and United Nations for a settlement to the Cyprus dispute.

Nami, elaborating on the alternatives, compared the Cyprus problem with the deadlocked talks over the future of Kosovo.

“Balances are changing in Europe. What do we see in the case of Kosovo or Bosnia? When diplomatic efforts are exhausted other alternatives are put on the table. We clearly see this in Kosovo where diplomacy proved futile and other formulas are floating around. This will certainly have an impact on Cyprus,” he said.

As the EU nations failed to resolve the deadlock over Kosovo during negotiations this month, ethnic Albanians in this province pledged to proclaim independence from Serbia early next year. The United States and several EU states have indicated they will recognize it.



Sacred alliance

EU-member Greek Cyprus remains the only member blocking a unanimous position on Kosovo – both concerning recognizing its independence and on sending a 1,800 strong policy and administrative mission there. Greek Cyprus is proceeding along the same line as its traditional ally Russia.

“There has been a sacred alliance between Greek Cyrus and Russia dating back to old times but this has got deeper and deeper due to the Kosovo problem. Greek Cypriots are devising policies by trusting Russia's veto at the U.N. Security Council and in return are acting as the Trojan horse of the Russians within the EU,” said Nami.

“All the nations in the EU are considerably uneasy about this. Greek Cypriots will either offend the EU or Russia in the long run. They will soon find themselves in a dilemma,” he added. Russia always speaks up for the position of the Greek Cypriots in the U.N. Security Council and blocked a report of then Secretary General Kofi Annan who praised the Turkish Cypriots for their approval of a U.N.-backed peace plan for reunification with the Greek Cypriots in a 2004 referendum.

Direct trade not withdrawn

Following the failure of the Annan plan the EU proposed direct trade regulations to reward the Turkish Cypriots for their “yes” vote but the package was repeatedly dropped from the bloc's agenda when the term presidencies faced severe objections from the Greek Cypriots. Nami said he was convinced in Brussels last week that the European Commission will not step back from its commitments to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

“But this does not mean that there will be progress during the term presidency of Slovenia that starts in January. Slovenian officials, however, vow to try their best but we'll wait and see whether the package will finally be adopted or some other formulas that serve the same purpose will come out,” he added.

“We tell the Europeans that the Greek Cypriots feel very relaxed after securing membership in the EU and that they cannot motivate the Greek Cypriots unless the sanctions imposed on northern Cyprus are lifted. I personally observed that our thesis is acknowledged by EU circles and believe that the EU will make strides to ease the isolation of northern Cyprus, while the negotiations for a final solution continue under U.N. auspices in 2008.”

Although the EU refrains from taking unilateral steps to aid the Turkish Cypriots, good news coming from the European capitals breathes new life into efforts for a collective solution to the decades-old problem. Last week, the Turkish Cypriot government opened an office in Rome to boost ties with Italy and promote the breakaway state in a EU-member country.

“This is a very important development and we see that member countries are taking some steps, though the EU cannot act in the way that it wishes to do as an institution. Thus, the EU delivers the message that it will not remain a mere bystander to the Greek Cypriot blockade. This momentum in Western capitals could push the EU to do the same,” said Nami.



Childish rhetoric

Ahead of the presidential election in the south, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said a proposal for a solution to the Cyprus problem was ready but did not announce it.

“Nobody found this statement convincing. This is a childish style. It is no surprise that we face such campaigns during election times. It is crystal clear that no progress will be made before the vote in the south,” said Nami.

[boomerang]

I want to know, you effendi, as a journo, and working at bayarak, an alleged newspaper, why you ain't reporting on the 50,000 new citizenships that turkey wants you to give residency too...you say not newsworthy?...I say yes, coz they are saying they ain't gonna give you money...

Do you job and report effendi...