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[RAFAELLA]

The myth of isolation?

Cyprus Mail, 2 July 2006

IT'S always a shame when a word or phrase becomes so used that it loses its meaning and becomes just another political slogan.

In Cyprus, there are so many such phrases that when someone starts spouting one, the general tendency is to switch off.

One of the latest ones to crop up these days is the need to 'end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots'.

Apart from conjuring up a whole population cut off from the outside world, what does the 'isolation of the Turkish Cypriots' actually mean?

There are in fact two facets to the isolation. Turkish Cypriots are isolated economically and politically, and it is not a simple matter to separate the two.

Before the Turkish side allowed the crossing points to open in April 2003, Turkish Cypriots were to a large extent also physically isolated.

According to the Turkish Cypriots and Ankara, the isolation is being caused by the Greek Cypriots. They say the government is blocking all attempts at allowing them to trade freely with the rest of the world.

Given the government's legalistic stance on anything to do with the north, the situation could be viewed this way.

But in fact the Greek Cypriots don't appear to mind ending the economic isolation, as long as it has no political repercussions. In other words it does not want to end the political isolation of the 'TRNC', and what it fears is that the Turkish side is using the economic isolation as a means to the political end. A Foreign Ministry report written in April outlining the Greek Cypriot position, said the 'isolation' slogan was misleading.

Some analysts and diplomatic observers actually agree.

"As a phrase it is overused," said Hubert Faustman, Assistant Professor of International Relations at Intercollege. "It's a political and propaganda tool. The isolation is partly inflicted by themselves, and they never mention that."

"That's what triggered part of the isolation, but of course they keep a low profile about that. And of course the phrase as it is sued also hides the political demand for political equality," Fostmann said.

He said the potential springboard for separation on the basis of a separate state was what was behind the 'end of the isolation'.

"This is of course what the Greek Cypriot side fears, that the Turkish Cypriots will say thanks for the end of the isolation and walk away." Western diplomatic sources said the Greek Cypriot side was willing to end the isolation, if it was on their terms.

"They can participate in any sporting event if they do it under the Republic of Cyprus flag. They can participate in anything and everything under the Republic of Cyprus flag. But that is totally politically unacceptable to all but a few Turkish Cypriots. It's not a very convincing response," said one diplomatic source.

In a way, he said, the isolation meant Turkish Cypriots were being excluded from Europe when they were de facto EU citizens, although the acquis is suspended in the north, but agreed the phrase was not something that could just be bandied about.

"The language has become highly politically charged. It's like the Annan plan. These things get a life of their own and it's not usually helpful. In some ways, we prefer to talk about bringing the Turkish Cypriots closer to Europe. It would be better for them to have a strong economic relationship with the EU than it would be to have them entirely dependent on Turkey," said the source. "Because it's couched in terms of isolation, it makes it more difficult to have that debate.

"I'd agree that the language used is not particularly helpful unless you know the full picture."

Political analyst James Ker-Lindsay echoed Faustmann's view that a lot of problems in the north were self-inflicted.

"To be brutally honest, the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is in large part the fault of the Turkish Cypriots. When Rauf Denktash declared independence, he knew the consequences. He was told not to do it and as soon as he did he forced a reaction. If he had never done that there wouldn't be a UN resolution declaring the TRNC illegal because there would be no TRNC," he said.

Ker-Lindsay said that although the Greek Cypriots had played a hard game in the EU and had stood in the way of a number of measures that might have helped the Turkish Cypriots, a lot of other measures that the Turkish Cypriots blame on the Greek Cypriots were a result of Security Council resolutions that prevented other states from offering recognition.

"There is no way past this," he said.

He added the Turkish Cypriots didn't need to be as isolated as they were, if only they were willing to compromise on certain things.

"If building up their economy is more important, they should take the trade," he said.

Faustmann agreed, recounting a recent incident where Turkish Cypriots were to bring a consignment of potatoes for export through Limassol. However, they did not have refrigerated trucks, as required under EU rules, and the shipment would have to be picked up by Greek Cypriots trucks. They refused, and in the end the potatoes were bought by Turkey.

"You see this all the time when it comes to the export of goods from the ports, where practical solutions are required and the Turkish Cypriots still pursue their agenda of maximum autonomy rather than take advantage of the practical solutions," he said.

"It's a typical example of avoiding practical solutions on the Turkish Cypriot side. It's the same old story. They are all playing the same game. They've been playing it for years and they'll be playing for in years to come."

THE government has long argued that the Turkish Cypriots' isolation is brought on by themselves. These are the main points of the government's argument:

-Turkey has in the past prevented Turkish Cypriots from acquiring Cyprus Republic passports, identity cards and other documents, which facilitate travel and other activities in Cyprus and abroad and allow Turkish Cypriots to enjoy EU benefits and consular protection in third countries.

-Low-paid settlers from Turkey pushed Turkish Cypriots out of their own labour market causing much of their relative economic deprivation.

-Turkey introduced the Turkish lira in the occupied areas in 1983, causing high inflation and other serious economic and social problems and exposed Turkish Cypriots to the problems of the Turkish economy.

-Turkey has controlled the economy of the north through conditional aid, direct instructions and management, creating an inefficient system.

-Turkey has since 1980 been behind the rejection by Turkish Cypriot leaders of confidence-building measures, including several on trade, because, although ending the 'isolation', such measures would not promote international recognition.

-Turkey created the illegal 'state' in northern Cyprus that led to European Court of Justice decisions, which have determined restrictions on exports, and which prevents the implementation of the EU acquis

-The invitation to the Turkish Cypriot community to join the Cyprus delegation in EU accession negotiations was turned down.

-The Turkish Cypriot leadership, backed by Ankara, refuses to implement many measures, including parts of the Green Line regulation for political reasons, depriving Turkish Cypriots of significant economic benefits.

-The Turkish side is holding out for external 'direct trade', an idea not promoted by economic considerations, but as a political goal.

-The government has always extended to Turkish Cypriots a number of essential services, including free supply of electricity, pensions and social security benefits.

-The government also proposed and strongly supported the EU financial assistance to benefit Turkish Cypriots. However, there were efforts to attach political stipulations to its release.

-The substantial increase in economic activity and trade across the ceasefire line since 2003 has helped double the per capita income of Turkish Cypriots in the last two years.

-The government has been better able to provide services to Turkish Cypriots since the partial lifting in 2003 of restrictions imposed by the Turkish side.

-Turkish Cypriots are now working, in increasing numbers, in the government-controlled areas and enjoy a range of benefits, including free medical care.

-Their economy has also benefited greatly from the millions of crossings by Greek Cypriots and foreign tourists to the north.


http://www.civilitasresearch.org/press/ ... ess_id=280

Official figures up to May 2007
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90,920 Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus birth certificates
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79,497 Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus identity cards
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49,156 Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus passports
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Source: Government of Republic of Cyprus

[pantheman]

Again an excellent post kori, but I fear it is going to be turned against you because the TCs will never accept any facts that go against them. They only know how to spout rubbish like ENOSIS, you destroyed our villages, you kicked us out, isolation blah blah blah.

Anyway, keep 'em coming girl, you are doing a grand job.

Oh, you don't work for the RoC government by any chance ?? Just checking cos they are also going to accuse you of a Tpap propogandist.

good luck

[paaul12]

pantheman RAFAELLA

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=q18HZVozrgk[/youtube]

[Filitsa]

And then there are those who skew the facts, attempting to present them as truths. Prove to us, Paul, that it is a fact that the UN resolution is "misconceived" ... as if this isn't a matter of opinion.

P.S. Confusing words such as travesty and tragedy to come up with the non-word "trajisty" lends very little credibility to your "facts."

[umit07]

You like what the UN says so much why don't you da as ban asks?

http://www.embargoed.org/external_news_ ... php?id=118

Read the resources part of the site!

[umit07]

I wonder what the fuss about adds of North Cyprus on the big bens in London was about?

[paliometoxo]

what a load of crap on that video

[phoenix]

And what has changed since the article first appeared?

Nothing .... the Turk-TCs have learnt nothing. They carry on being held to ransom by Turkey, told what to do and how to do it ......

OKAY ... so they must be enjoying this isolation ... ! "I want to be alone!"

Brainless.

How useful are they going to be when Turkey has to leave. They have stopped functioning like normal independent thinking Human Beings.

Even now, all they understand is "youtube" ... all their education is from videos ... easy brainwashing material is what they are being raised on by Turkey.

[zan]

Do you guys understand anything you read..Talk about snow blindness

Does the word "Partially to blame" mean anything to you???


Does the words "As long as they trade through the "RoC" " mean anything to you.???



The EU and the UN are talking about "Lifting isolation". Does that mean anything to you......

What the article is saying is that we can give up and leave everything to the "RoC" and the isolations are lifted...What F****ING isolation if it does not exist......

As per usual the Nazi highlights pieces she doesn't even understand and claims a victory but the only victory is for stupidity as the other Nazi human experimentalist does the honours and joins in the stupidity....


WE ARE NOT PART OF THE "RoC". We are part of the Zurich agreement and the CYPRUS REPUBLIC.......The "RoC" is an illegal entity that has been given temporary legality through errors......
What a mixed up article.....One minute it does not exist and then we are partly to blame for it......How the hell can it be both.......

[miltiades]

Do you guys understand anything you read..Talk about snow blindness

Does the word "Partially to blame" mean anything to you???


Does the words "As long as they trade through the "RoC" " mean anything to you.???



The EU and the UN are talking about "Lifting isolation". Does that mean anything to you......

What the article is saying is that we can give up and leave everything to the "RoC" and the isolations are lifted...What F****ING isolation if it does not exist......

As per usual the Nazi highlights pieces she doesn't even understand and claims a victory but the only victory is for stupidity as the other Nazi human experimentalist does the honours and joins in the stupidity....


WE ARE NOT PART OF THE "RoC". We are part of the Zurich agreement and the CYPRUS REPUBLIC.......The "RoC" is an illegal entity that has been given temporary legality through errors......
What a mixed up article.....One minute it does not exist and then we are partly to blame for it......How the hell can it be both.......

So this illegal entity that you refer to , the ROC has hoodwinked the entire world , numerous UN articles , the European Union , the Commonwealth , the entire number of Islamic nations , because all these nations recognise the legality of the ROC , but Turkey who invaded and occupied the North part of Cyprus has the audacity to tell the world , hey people , you are all fucking wrong , this so called Republic of Cyprus on whose soil I keep 40 thousand troops IS ILLEGAL !! ONLY THE TRNC IS LEGAL.What fucking nonsense Zan , what absurd suppositions !
I wonder if the 45 thousand or more T/Cs in possession of the ROC Passport , are themselves ILLEGAL !!
Having said all these I concede that the 1960 Zurich agreement should be respected by all , starting with Turkey who had the right to intervene in order to protect the island's independence as per the terms of the Zurich agreements but the minute she stayed longer than required then it is hypocritical to use the Zurich agreements as the "legal " means that constitute the ROC.