Cyprus-Forum.com

[The Cypriot]

Engaging Turkey
Published in the Financial Times: September 8 2009 19:59

Turkey and Armenia, neighbours divided by bitter conflict for almost a century, are intent on early diplomatic recognition and reopening their long-closed border. That was the good news that slipped out last week. The plan still has to get mutual parliamentary approval. There is strong nationalist opposition on both sides. But the Swiss-mediated negotiations have made much better progress than was expected.

Ankara’s announcement last week of new measures to ease cultural restrictions on the restive Kurdish minority was also good news. They stop short of constitutional amendments or an amnesty for former militants, but they are a step in the right direction.

Both actions should encourage faster progress in the languishing negotiations on Turkey’s membership application to join the European Union. Yet those talks are caught in a vicious cycle of mutual disenchantment, as spelt out this week in a disturbing report by the Independent Commission on Turkey, a group of eminent Europeans chaired by Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland.

They argue that EU credibility is at stake because Turkey is not being treated as a normal accession candidate. In spite of a unanimous decision five years ago to open the talks, France, Germany and Austria are all now backing an alternative “privileged partnership” that stops well short of full membership. France is blocking negotiations on several issues. So is Cyprus. Such behaviour is dangerously counter-productive.

Failure to reach agreement on the reunification of Cyprus has poisoned the process. The EU members made a fundamental mistake in allowing that divided island to join without a deal. Now there is little incentive for the Greek Cypriots, already enjoying the full benefits of membership, to negotiate one in good faith.

As Europe hesitates, Turkey also drags its feet. There is little political incentive in backing EU membership in Ankara. Young Turks are increasingly sceptical. There are worrying signs of anti-democratic behaviour, too, such as the government’s latest imposition of massive fines on the Dogan media group, the country’s largest.

Both the EU and Turkey should urgently refocus attention both on the Cyprus talks and the wider accession negotiations. To allow them to fail by default would be a tragedy. It would also sour relations between the EU and a vital partner whose engagement is essential for Europe’s future security, prosperity and dynamism.

Are we to let the FT get away with this unadulterated drivel? Surely the free Cypriots need the ‘incentive’ of a reunified homeland on a basis consistent with the European rights and freedoms - just like all other free Europeans.

Not a legitimised apartheid arrangement enshrining racist separation, abandonment of birthrights and continued interference by foreign military aggressors.

Now do you see the devastating harm caused by allowing the world to perceive the free citizens of the Republic of Cyprus as petty-minded ‘Greek’ Cypriots?

I'm hopeful this article will prove extremely costly to the FT - in financial terms - the only terms these bastards understand.

[Oracle]

Now do you see the devastating harm caused by allowing the world to perceive the free citizens of the Republic of Cyprus as petty-minded ‘Greek’ Cypriots?

Why are there inverted commas flanking "Greek"?

[The Cypriot]

Now do you see the devastating harm caused by allowing the world to perceive the free citizens of the Republic of Cyprus as petty-minded ‘Greek’ Cypriots?

Why are there inverted commas flanking "Greek"?

Ask an Armenian or a Maronite.

[Oracle]

Now do you see the devastating harm caused by allowing the world to perceive the free citizens of the Republic of Cyprus as petty-minded ‘Greek’ Cypriots?

Why are there inverted commas flanking "Greek"?

Ask an Armenian or a Maronite.

So, your main concern is that only 'Greek' Cypriots are perceived as "petty-minded" and not the whole repertoire of Cypriots?

[The Cypriot]

Now do you see the devastating harm caused by allowing the world to perceive the free citizens of the Republic of Cyprus as petty-minded ‘Greek’ Cypriots?

Why are there inverted commas flanking "Greek"?

Ask an Armenian or a Maronite.

So, your main concern is that only 'Greek' Cypriots are perceived as "petty-minded" and not the whole repertoire of Cypriots?

No. My main concern is what the FT published.

[YFred]

Now do you see the devastating harm caused by allowing the world to perceive the free citizens of the Republic of Cyprus as petty-minded ‘Greek’ Cypriots?

Why are there inverted commas flanking "Greek"?

Ask an Armenian or a Maronite.

So, your main concern is that only 'Greek' Cypriots are perceived as "petty-minded" and not the whole repertoire of Cypriots?

I think some of us predicted that some time ago that EU is tired of the Cyprus Problem and can see right through your unnecessary delaying tactics for the hope that you can get more at some stage in the future. It's costin them time and time is money and money talks, dearest lady.

[-mikkie2-]

The FT is as pro-Turkey as they come!

[insan]

The EU members made a fundamental mistake in allowing that divided island to join without a deal. Now there is little incentive for the Greek Cypriots, already enjoying the full benefits of membership, to negotiate one in good faith.

Fundamental mistake? It was a very well pre-planned plot.

GCs enjoy the full benefits of EU memebership? Their soci-ecomomic conditions were far better before they joined EU.

[Get Real!]

"The EU members made a fundamental mistake in allowing that divided island to join without a deal."

The fundamental mistake was to ignore international law in the first place; which calls for the complete withdrawal of Turkish forces and the dismantling of the illegal puppet “state”.

http://www.un.int/cyprus/resolut.htm

[Oracle]

The EU members made a fundamental mistake in allowing that divided island to join without a deal. Now there is little incentive for the Greek Cypriots, already enjoying the full benefits of membership, to negotiate one in good faith.

Fundamental mistake? It was a very well pre-planned plot.

For what purpose? Just to keep Turkey out of the EU?

GCs enjoy the full benefits of EU memebership? Their soci-ecomomic conditions were far better before they joined EU.

Any short-term sacrifice in socio-economics will be more than made up for once the French forces have familiarised themselves with military sea-manoeuvres around our shores.

Another due soon, methinks ....