Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

EU should be ashamed on Cyprus
02 11 2006

Mehmet Ali Birand

Before the vote on the Annan plan, I personally believed the Turkish Cypriots were faced with a historic opportunity and did everything I could to ensure that the plan was a success. I believed that, with the plan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) would be able to stand on its own two feet. The KKTC would enter the European Union with Greek Cyprus and consequently, the Cyprus issue would no longer be an obstacle to Turkey's EU aspirations. I am still of the same opinion.

The reason I believed this was that I took the EU seriously on the issue. EU institutions and member countries had made promises to the Turkish side. If the plan had been approved, we would now face a world of opportunities.

This belief made Turkish Cypriots overwhelmingly endorse the plan at their referendum. I still believe Turkish Cypriot support for the plan was correct because it allowed Turkey to start EU membership negotiations; Turkish Cypriots argue that they have done everything they could.

The Greek Cypriots, on the other hand, are out to win through cunning. They rejected the Annan plan during the referenda and slammed the door in the EU's face.

They deceived the EU while securing EU membership. They now want the Turkish side, which believed in the EU, to be punished.

This is too much.

Yes, legally Turkey needs to abide by the agreements it has signed and eventually open its ports. However, that day is not today. It cannot accede to the demands through such coercion.

No, the EU can't implement such a childish policy.

If the only objective is to ensure negotiations with Turkey are suspended, they need not use such amateurish ploys. They can find other excuses just as easily and get the same result.

The EU is losing its credibility.

They may not realize it, but what they are doing is pushing Turkey out of Europe and losing EU support from the Turkish people.

The policy followed by Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos today is obvious for all to see. Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat's request is limited to the easing of the KKTC's isolation.

Turkey should not show any flexibility over such an idiotic policy.

If Europe has an iota of vision or self respect, it should end the current disgrace. It should stop threatening Turkey to make it open its ports. It should postpone the problem until a solution is found. If not, we will see its true intention is not to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey but to harm it.

Papadopoulos wants to take over the KKTC:The president of Greek Cyprus, Papadopoulos, is a very lucky individual.

He won the presidency at such a time that he can enjoy the post to the full. He also intends to win a second term by capitalizing on certain issues that he had nothing to do with.

The only other leader who was able to blackmail Europe into doing his bidding, I believe, was Malta's Don Mintoff in the 1980s.

If we can summarize Papadopoulos's policy after his country became an EU member in one sentence, it is: “Take over the KKTC.”

If we just list the statements he has made up until now and assess his relations with the Turkish side, we reach the same conclusion. His only objective is to facilitate the surrender of the Turkish side.

Papadopoulos may be justified in pursuing such a policy. He is right to exploit the developments to his country's benefit.

However, it is Turkey that needs to ensure he doesn't get what he wants.
We can take no more.

Turkey opening its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot shipping without the end of the isolation of the KKTC, or at least some easing of it, would be tantamount to Papadopoulos taking over.

Talat is right.

Turkey must resist.

If necessary, it should risk harming its relations with the EU in order to resist the pressure. It should not allow these small games to reach fruition.

Papadopoulos should not win a second term so cheaply.

Turkey should not leave the entire island to Papadopoulos' mercy.

[MR-from-NG]

They have no shame. They are the scum of the earth. a christians club who have repeatedly stabbed us in the back and will continue to do so.

Turkey should suspend all talks with the EU until they fulfill all promises made to the TC's at the time of the referendum.

[cypezokyli]

[pitsilos]

They have no shame. They are the scum of the earth. a christians club who have repeatedly stabbed us in the back and will continue to do so.

Turkey should suspend all talks with the EU until they fulfill all promises made to the TC's at the time of the referendum.

do i sence desperation creeping in

turkey knew exactly what she was signing, or you think they are stupid, but it looks like they failed to inform the public about what it was required to do after you signed and got a date.

politics turkish style. keep the public in the dark and feed them bullshit

[zan]

They have no shame. They are the scum of the earth. a christians club who have repeatedly stabbed us in the back and will continue to do so.

Turkey should suspend all talks with the EU until they fulfill all promises made to the TC's at the time of the referendum.

do i sence desperation creeping in

turkey knew exactly what she was signing, or you think they are stupid, but it looks like they failed to inform the public about what it was required to do after you signed and got a date.

politics turkish style. keep the public in the dark and feed them bullshit

It seems that you are on the same staple diet as well as in the case of the Annan plan

[pitsilos]

which plan? what plan? we had a masterbetter plan. does eu membership rings a bell?

the problem with you is that you are shortsighted. you failled to see the significance of what was coming.

[zan]

which plan? what plan? we had a masterbetter plan. does eu membership rings a bell?

the problem with you is that you are shortsighted. you failled to see the significance of what was coming.

And by entering the EU with the help of the USA was of benefit to you because???????

Your hands are tied now my friend. That was the reason that the USA wanted you in there because you are now under the control of an organisation that cannot attack a state made up of less than half a million people. We are not Iraq to pose a world threat. It would have been quite different if you were not in the EU because you could have attacked us with the pretence that it was an internal affair but now if we stay peaceful then you have no way of attacking us. Did you not see that one coming.

[pitsilos]

oh i see. turkey double crossed us by getting the roc in the EU. how did i fail to see this one coming? yeap you are right, our hands are tied. but what does that tell ya?. it tells me, the cypriots are so good they can even cook a turkey with their hands tied behind their back.

and i thought your elevator never gets to to the top floor

[zan]

oh i see. turkey double crossed us by getting the roc in the EU. how did i fail to see this one coming? yeap you are right, our hands are tied. but what does that tell ya?. it tells me, the cypriots are so good they can even cook a turkey with their hands tied behind their back.

and i thought your elevator never gets to to the top floor

Look I know its getting late but try to keep up. I said the USA planned it that way.

There are at least three GC restaurants that have closed in our area because people are fed up with the rubbish food and being ripped off and how many times can you break plates before you get bored shitless.

[zan]

http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international& ... 4&hn=37938

In the Financial Times news concerning the issue, it is stated “the irony is that today it is the Turkish Cypriots who are most enthusiastic about a settlement to end the division caused by the Turkish military invasion in 1974, while the Greek Cypriots - having rejected the Annan plan for a settlement in 2004 - seem least bothered.”

Recent opinion polls among Greek Cypriots show strong hostility to any federal solution, and growing support for effective separation of the two communities, the Financial Times said.

The newspaper also wrote, “Officials in Athens believe that if Turkey were forced to pull out of the membership talks, it could well end hopes for any Cyprus settlement for years.”