Cyprus-Forum.com

[Murtaza]

The foreign minister says the lifting of all existing restrictions, especially in the economic and humanitarian areas, 'for both sides and by all the relevant parties,' will represent a significant step towards reaching a comprehensive settlement and political compromise on Cyprus

YUSUF KANLI and ELİF ÜNAL ARSLAN

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

Turkey is planning to undertake a new two-pronged Cyprus initiative: Reaffirming its readiness for a new peace drive by the United Nations on the one hand and offering the mutual lifting of all Cyprus restrictions “for both sides and by all the relevant parties” on the other.

In an exclusive interview with the Turkish Daily News, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül unveiled Turkey's new Cyprus offer and said he believed “the lifting of all existing restrictions, especially in the economic and humanitarian areas, for both sides and by all the relevant parties, will represent a significant step towards reaching a comprehensive settlement and political compromise.”

Gül said Turkey wanted the establishment of permanent peace on Cyprus and was ready to make every possible contribution to achieve that goal.



Cyprus summit in Ankara:

Foreign Minister Gül said an upcoming Cyprus summit in Ankara was not designed as preparation for scheduled June 8 talks between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President George W. Bush or for a meeting in New York with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, but since it would be held prior to those important encounters, it in a way would serve that purpose as well.

He said the visit would be the first official trip to Turkey of new Turkish Cypriot leaders President Mehmet Ali Talat and Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer since coming to office after the recent presidential elections in northern Cyprus. “It's natural that the new Turkish Cypriot president and prime minister will have meetings with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Erdoğan. In addition we will use the occasion to review our Cyprus policy together. Of course, this visit coming before ours to the United States is an advantage because it's highly probable that Cyprus will be among the issues that will be discussed there,” Gül said.

The foreign minister also disclosed that at the New York meeting with Annan, Prime Minister Erdoğan will renew Turkey's call for a resumption of the Cyprus process and will reiterate Turkish and Turkish Cypriot preparedness to make every possible contribution, to undertake every initiative for the establishment of permanent peace on the island.



Will there be any new Cyprus concessions?

Categorically ruling out any Cyprus concession up until the present time by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, Gül said in the Annan plan process Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people have undertaken the correct policy. “The Turkish Cypriot people did the right thing, and in the referenda on the Annan plan on April 24, 2004 they voted in a manner exposing the realities on the island to the entire world, at a time when the world considered the Turkish Cypriot side to be intransigent, uncivilized and trouble-makers. This perception was changed. This was a great policy. With this policy the world was shocked and was made to realize how incorrectly the Turkish Cypriots were being perceived. Therefore, a concession was out of the question. Similarly, Turkey has supported this policy and demonstrated that it is a country that can be conciliatory when needed,” he said.



Annan plan has become a reference:

The foreign minister underlined that Turkey was determined to continue taking initiatives for the establishment of lasting peace on the island and continues to support every effort aimed at achieving that goal.

He said the name of the initiative or how the peace offer was packaged was not that important, as long as it aimed at striking a balanced deal between the sides. Condemning claims that Turkey has abandoned the Annan plan as “unfounded gossip,” the minister said: “For us the aim is to reach a lasting peace. We are fully supportive of that. When we meet with the secretary-general, we will assert that once again and clearly underline our readiness to make every contribution to achieve that goal. The Turkish Cypriots and Turkey are ready and prepared for that. Will that be achieved with this or that plan? That is something else.”

Gül said Turkey would very much want to see the Greek Cypriot side resubmit the Annan plan to a referendum “as is.” He said Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots were “ready” for that but warned: “What's important is to be sincere, not to try to deceive others, not to try to stage a new play, and to work in earnest for lasting peace. Of course, everything has a limit. This will be followed by the world as well. It has been followed so far, in any case. Therefore, one should not expect that these things will continue forever.”

He reiterated that Ankara and the Turkish Cypriots would be happy to see the Greek Cypriots resubmit the Annan plan as is to a new referendum. “Let them vote on it again because this plan was developed with reconciliation. Now, if they have any written proposal for some changes to be made to it -- they haven't been able to put forward anything other than some mumbling so far, which doesn't count for anything -- then we will also have our proposals because that was the text of compromise. There I made some compromises. If we are to construct a new roof, then I have some things to say regarding the new roof as well,” he said.



New Cyprus offer: Mutual lifting of all restrictions:

Foreign Minister Gül said political efforts and economic studies on Cyprus were once again under way and that Turkey had some new offers to make within that framework. Gül said all the efforts by the European Union to end the isolation of northern Cyprus were being blocked by the Greek Cypriots. He said Turkey was now making a new offer for the mutual lifting of all restrictions on the island as well as those directly or indirectly related to the island.

“Now, I want to unveil this new offer through the Turkish Daily News,” the minister said and unveiled Ankara's new Cyprus initiative as follows:

“Turkey supports efforts to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus question within the framework of the U.N. secretary-general's good offices mission. We have already done our share in this regard and will continue to do so. With this understanding in mind, we will hold consultations with the United Nations in the coming days.

"On the other hand, following the affirmative Turkish Cypriot vote in the referenda that took place in April 2004, the EU Council undertook to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Within this context the EU Commission has drafted two regulations regarding direct trade and financial aid that have yet to be approved.

"We would like to call on all relevant parties to lift all kind of restrictions imposed on both sides in Cyprus at the same time.

"In fact, the Turkish side has already taken positive steps towards this end. The unilateral decision of the KKTC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] to open the border for crossings on the island on April 23, 2003 and a Turkish government decision to facilitate the travel of Greek Cypriot citizens to Turkey are only two examples in this regard.

"Within the framework of this understanding, we suggest the implementation of the following arrangements as a whole:

a) Free movement of people, goods and services to the Turkish Cypriot side as well as between the north and the south;

b) The lifting of all restrictions applied to sea and airports, including direct flights;

c) The elimination of restrictions regarding third-country citizens;

d) Special arrangements for the direct inclusion of north Cyprus as an economic entity into the EU customs union and enjoyment of its full benefits by all Turkish Cypriots; and

e) The removal of all obstacles that prevent the Turkish Cypriot side from participating in international sports, culture and other activities.

"Our suggestion conforms with the repeated calls and expectations of the international community, particularly [those] of the United Nations, European Union, European Council and Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC] made after the referenda, with a view to integrating the Turkish Cypriots with the world.

"Within this context we also believe that the lifting of all existing restrictions, especially in the economic and humanitarian areas, for both sides and by all the relevant parties, will represent a significant step towards reaching a comprehensive settlement and political compromise.”

[Piratis]

Gül said Turkey wanted the establishment of permanent peace on Cyprus and was ready to make every possible contribution to achieve that goal.

What a joker!
They maintain 40.000 troops that stop people from accessing their properties, and not only that, but they give these properties to others illegally, and then he says that he will make every possible contribution to achieve peace!!

Peace will only come when justice is applied and the illegalities by Turkey are stopped.

the lifting of all existing restrictions, especially in the economic and humanitarian areas, for both sides and by all the relevant parties, will represent a significant step towards reaching a comprehensive settlement and political compromise

The restrictions exist only to those that act illegally and they will be lifted when the illegality stops.

If Turkey doesn't want to do what she agreed to do in order to start negotiations with EU, then no problem, she will not start negotiations.

[Main_Source]

Was Gul keeping a straight face!?

So what he is saying to RoC is 'lay down the foundations for recognition of 'TRNC' and we will open Turkey's ports up to you' lol.

c) The elimination of restrictions regarding third-country citizens;

d) Special arrangements for the direct inclusion of north Cyprus as an economic entity into the EU customs union and enjoyment of its full benefits by all Turkish Cypriots; and

and this!? - To let the illegal colonial settlers, WHO THEY SHIPPED INTO OUR HOUSES, to also take advantage of RoC.

This Gul guy is the same idiot that said that the ancient Greek churches in Turkey were of 'early Christian Turks' and that Saint Nick was also a Turk.

and while the Turkish politicians keep making underlying tones that the GC should be punished for voting 'no' to a corrupt plan, then there is never going to be an ounce of trust between Cyprus and Turkey.

[garbitsch]

Irrespective of what Gul said, I think the solution must come from both sides. We shouldn't wait from foreigners to cook the meal and put in front of us. What I am trying to say, there should be bilateral agreements between two sides. I think the Turkish administration should be recognised as "interim federal state of North Cyprus" or somethink like that. First there should be economic union between both sides. In the meantime, the settlers and properties issues should be solved by BOTH sides. In the end, this integration process should end with a federal unification... But the problem is Greek side hiding behind their EU membership and ignoring the administration in the North. Again, we do not demand recognition, but still you cannot ignore the political entity in the north. Even West Germany had never recognised East Germany but both sides had sat down and negotiated. They didnt wait for a unification plan, did they?
If we are going to be forced to accept the plan, then this plan will obviously collapse in 2 or 3 years.

What do you guys say?

[Main_Source]

Cyprus needs to learn by its mistakes. The last time a plan was forced on to Cyprus, look what happened. No point in rushing into agreeing a plan...and someone needs to tell Talat this, so he doesnt go and say a load of crap to the press.

[detailer]

Gül said Turkey wanted the establishment of permanent peace on Cyprus and was ready to make every possible contribution to achieve that goal.

What a joker!
They maintain 40.000 troops that stop people from accessing their properties, and not only that, but they give these properties to others illegally, and then he says that he will make every possible contribution to achieve peace!!

Peace will only come when justice is applied and the illegalities by Turkey are stopped.

the lifting of all existing restrictions, especially in the economic and humanitarian areas, for both sides and by all the relevant parties, will represent a significant step towards reaching a comprehensive settlement and political compromise

The restrictions exist only to those that act illegally and they will be lifted when the illegality stops.

If Turkey doesn't want to do what she agreed to do in order to start negotiations with EU, then no problem, she will not start negotiations.

When it comes to TC' sufferings, you (greeks) are extremly ignorant. Dont you see how much we suffer because of the sanctions on us?

You see yourself in the giant window when it comes to your veto right in Turkey's EU progress.If Turkey's entrance provides a benefit to Germany, France, UK..., they will tell Greece, GC "sit down",

If it is not THEIR BENEFIT, they will provide Greeks say no to it. You are a small puppet my friend. I am sorry

[MicAtCyp]

What you say Grabitsch is good, I mean our No1 issue is the properties and your number 1 is the economics. However it seems each side ALWAYS wants to add something else fearing that maybe the situation will remain for ever at that point.The TC side wants to add the power sharing , the GCs the matter of settlers. Then again the GC wants to add the matter of security, and the TC side the matter of Bizonality. So in the end both sides want to have a deal on everything!!!

[garbitsch]

What you say Grabitsch is good, I mean our No1 issue is the properties and your number 1 is the economics. However it seems each side ALWAYS wants to add something else fearing that maybe the situation will remain for ever at that point.The TC side wants to add the power sharing , the GCs the matter of settlers. Then again the GC wants to add the matter of security, and the TC side the matter of Bizonality. So in the end both sides want to have a deal on everything!!!

Exactly. We shouldn't expect a sudden unification which would be imposed on us by foreign powers who have no idea about Cyprus. I blame both sides for this. I think giving a halt to the sale of Greek properties, transfering of Varosha/Marash to its owners and allowing direct flights & trade from North could be good start. After my exams I can give more details about my own solution procedure. I do not want to call it a plan, since it's a bit itchy.
I suppose, we should take the EU integration process as an example and this will be definitaly 1000 times easier to be carried out in Cyprus. Again, I repeat, this should be a gradual process and could be solved by bargaining. This is the only win-win solution we can get...

[Main_Source]

makes sense to me.

[RAFAELLA]

When it comes to TC' sufferings, you (greeks) are extremly ignorant. Dont you see how much we suffer because of the sanctions on us?

Why there are sactions?
Who imposed those sanctions?
I believe it's time for the Tcs to realise that Gcs have nothing to do with those sanctions. It all has to do with turkish invasion, occupation and violation of interantional laws. Turkey is responsible for all those sanctions.
Tcs are Tr's hostages, Tr keeps Tcs away from the rest of the world.