Cyprus-Forum.com

[wyoming cowboy]

Turkey – a hostage to Cyprus

April 19, 2012 - 3:59pm




Robert Ellis




After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, British Foreign Secretary James Callaghan warned: “Today the Republic of Cyprus is the prisoner of the Turkish army. Tomorrow the Turkish army will find itself the prisoner of the Republic of Cyprus.”

A fornight ago the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee in its report on UK-Turkey relations agreed. “Turkey’s EU accession process is stuck, effectively hostage to the Cyprus dispute.”

In 1921 the Anglo-Irish Treaty provided for the partition of Ireland into what is now

the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom. With the

reunification of Germany in 1990 the partition of Cyprus remains as Europe’s longest












standing dispute and, as the Foreign Affairs Committee pointed out, has effectively

derailed Turkey’s accession process.

Turkey’s refusal to honour its commitment in 2005 to extend the customs union to the

Republic of Cyprus led to a decision by the European Council the following year to

block the opening of eight out of 35 chapters of the acquis. In addition, Cyprus has blocked a further six and France five (including one already blocked by the Council). This stalemate can only be resolved by a settlement of the Cyprus question.

Although a EU member state, Cyprus is in fact under foreign occupation. When Cyprus became independent in 1960, three percent of the island remained under British

control, namely the Akrotiri and Dhekelia sovereign base areas. Although the

British government has offered to return 50 percent of the territory “as a kind of

endowment” to Cyprus in the event of a settlement, the Cypriot House of Representatives has called for an end to the presence of the British bases in Cyprus.

And since 1974 Turkey, a candidate for EU membership, has occupied northern Cyprus

in defiance of a number of UN Security Council and European Parliament resolutions

calling for the withdrawal of Turkish troops. Last month Turkey’s Minister for EU

Affairs, Egemen Bağış, stated that Turkey would also consider annexation if peace

talks failed. As the European Court of Human Rights has designated northern Cyprus

“a subordinate local administration”, this would be a logical step for Turkey, although

it would put an end to Turkey’s EU aspirations.

According to evidence given to the Foreign Affairs Committee, EU leaders and their public seem convinced that Turkey’s Muslim background is incompatible with European norms, but this is the issue at stake in Cyprus. If these differences cannot be reconciled in a federation, what hope is there for Turkey to fit into the European framework?

The main issues that prevent a settlement are those of governance, property, territory

and citizenship, that is, the status of the influx of Turkish settlers from the mainland, many of whom have been given Turkish Cypriot citizenship, which is only valid in northern Cyprus.

UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) calls for the transfer of the ‘ghost city’

of Varosha to UN administration and the European Parliament has three times called

for the return of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants. But Prime Minister Erdoğan has

ruled out this move as “baseless and unacceptable” and instead called for a two-state

solution.

In the event that reunification talks fail, Turkey has threatened to boycott Cyprus’ EU term presidency from 1 July. As President Gül remarked to Turkish journalists during his state visit to London in November: “There will be a half-presidency leading a miserable union”.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) in its recent report, Aphrodite’s Gift,1 argues

the discovery of considerable natural gas resources in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone south of the island could be conducive to a settlement. The Foreign Affairs Committee has come to the same conclusion and mentions Turkey’s potential role as

an energy transit state for the EU.

The cost of building an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) plant on the southern coast of

Cyprus could be prohibitive, whereas the simplest way would be a pipeline to Turkey

to link up with Turkish networks, as this would be 10 percent of the cost of LNG.

Both Cypriot leaders have agreed that the administration of the island’s hydrocarbon

resources would be a federal competence, and as the UN Secretary-General’s Special

Adviser, Alexander Downer, put it: “A succesful wedding needs a dowry”. However,

the main obstacle is Turkey’s refusal to enter into negotiations with the Republic of

Cyprus.

As the ICG notes: “This position, based on 1960s and 1970s zero-sum thinking, runs

increasingly against the interests of Turkey and the neighbourhood.” The report

concludes that the gas finds could be the locomotive for reunification and that “it is

such a settlement, and not the gas, that will one day provide the real economic bonanza

for all the inhabitants of Cyprus.”

[GreekIslandGirl]

...
The main issues that prevent a settlement are those of governance, property, territory and citizenship, that is, the status of the influx of Turkish settlers from the mainland, many of whom have been given Turkish Cypriot citizenship, which is only valid in northern Cyprus....

That's pretty much everything then. The possibility of a pipeline might make Turkey 'agree'/settle for a while - but what happens when the gas goes? Annexation threats again? No, the EU has to remove Turkey from EU soil, once and for all, with its own threats and not succumb to bribes which make Turkey come back asking for more.

[kimon07]

Turkey – a hostage to Cyprus

April 19, 2012 - 3:59pm

"....... as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Alexander Downer, put it: “A succesful wedding needs a dowry”. However,

the main obstacle is Turkey’s refusal to enter into negotiations with the Republic of Cyprus.

No thank you Mr. Downer. We have nothing to negotiate with Turkey. Turkey must abide by the UN resolutions.Downer actually suggests that Cyprus should....compensate Turkey for all the damage it has done to the island? How very impartial. And what makes him dare suggest such a "wedding" of CY with Turkey?

[wyoming cowboy]

How much things have changed since 2004, after the vote on the annan plan. now Turkey is a hostage to Cyprus... The tide/ trend is changing towards the benefit of Cyprus, I still think Turkey will come up with a huge concession before July 1st.

[boulio]

So do i WYC and i think its going to be varosia to the UN,the roc needs to be ready for it.there has been pressreports that since february the un has visited varosia on multiple occassions.from the tc end they will accept as a comprimise cross voting on governace

[GreekIslandGirl]

Hasn't Christophias stated that none of the singular proposals will be accepted as part of the solution unless the whole is accepted - which means complete withdrawal of Turkey and reinstatement of all properties to rightful owners?

[Lordo]

It ceretainly is. Like being locked in the food store. You don't have to buy it anymore. Its free. Some hostage.

[bill cobbett]

So do i WYC and i think its going to be varosia to the UN,the roc needs to be ready for it.there has been pressreports that since february the un has visited varosia on multiple occassions.from the tc end they will accept as a comprimise cross voting on governace

Yes, doubtless we all feel it will be something to do with Occupied Famagusta and the Republic must be prepared for something that will come with a Turkish Sting in the Tail.

If it is Varosi then would like to be assured that there will be an insistence that Turkey will foot the several billions bill for its repair by making Reparations, for making good the looting it caused, paying for loss of use, renovating services etc.

[Lordo]

So do i WYC and i think its going to be varosia to the UN,the roc needs to be ready for it.there has been pressreports that since february the un has visited varosia on multiple occassions.from the tc end they will accept as a comprimise cross voting on governace

Yes, doubtless we all feel it will be something to do with Occupied Famagusta and the Republic must be prepared for something that will come with a Turkish Sting in the Tail.

If it is Varosi then would like to be assured that there will be an insistence that Turkey will foot the several billions bill for its repair by making Reparations, for making good the looting it caused, paying for loss of use, renovating services etc.

Is it not customary for the loser to pay war reparations to the winner? Or has the rules of war changed?
Or was it that GCs won the war and we just did not realise it?

[GreekIslandGirl]

Turkey's situation reminds me of that saying about jumping on the immortal Tiger's back. When is it safe to jump off?

Turkey is stuck riding the back of Cyprus, because Turkey will die as soon as it gets off ....