On the Eve of the New Year an Assessment of the Cyprus Problem by Cyprus EU Association
Neither the UN nor the EU Parameters; they simply do not want a solution!
The international community is once again reaffirming the intensive responsibility of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership on the continuation of the Cyprus problem. It is not either possible to say that the Greek Cypriot leadership is much worried regarding the delay of a solution. But the attitudes of those who claim to be acting on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots are hitting us worst.
World was astonished when Turkish Cypriots took to the streets in 2001 and said “yes” in the referenda. Hoping that they would change status quo and break free of the “sheep pen life”, they now face the harsh realities, at the end of 2007. It is well understood by all concerned that Turkey and the administration under its control in northern part of Cyprus do not want an early solution.
Both the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) in their respective reports released at the closing stages of 2007 specifically reaffirmed that Turkey, and TRNC considered to be its subordinate administration, are not actively supporting an early political solution to the Cyprus problem. It was stressed and pointed out that the 8 July Agreement was not implemented and that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side lacked the intentions and the political will to do so.
In his report dated 3 December 2007 (S/2007/699), UN Secretary General clearly expressed that; “there has been no progress on the implementation of the agreement of 8 July 2006 due to lack of political will, the Commission’s report concluded that the Financial Aid implementation process faced challenges, Turkish Forces attempted violation of the Green Line, including the area of Ledra Street, spite of the call to exercise restraint, military exercises concluded and the UN continues to hold the Government of Turkey responsible for the status quo in Varosha and the other issues.
SG in his report referred specially to the Resolution No.186 (March 1964), Resolution No.1758 (June 2007) and other earlier Security Council resolutions, clearly expressing that “the resolution No.186 was accepted after consultation with the Governments of Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom”; and in the Resolution No.1758 “UN actively supported the 8 July Agreement, pull-back of military personnel from sensitive areas, and urgent steps to be taken to facilitate the opening of a crossing point at Ledra Street.”
The part of the paragraph “Recognition, or assisting secession, would be contrary to the resolutions of the Security Council. Rather, the objective should be to engender greater economic and social parity between the sides by further promoting the development of the Turkish Cypriot community, so that the reunification of the island may occur in as seamless a manner as possible” in the SG’s report, distorted and expressed by Turkey and TRNC as if “UN is supporting the lifting of the isolations on TRNC” is excluded from the Security Council Resolution No.1789 (December 2007) The reason being that any steps to further promoting the development of the Turkish Cypriot community is used by the Turkish side as “another step towards recognition of TRNC”.
Reference given to the Resolution No.1251 (June 1999) in the Resolution 1789 (December 2007) of the SC, is the reflection of a need of a tough reminder and warning to the Turkish policies. The paragraph No.11 of this resolution reminded the Turkish side once again is as follows; “Reaffirms its position that a Cyprus settlement must be based on a State of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising two politically equal communities as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions, in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation, and that such a settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession.”
EU began to express its harsh dissatisfaction of Turkey’s not keeping to its promises made at the beginning of its accession negotiations regarding Cyprus. The wording used in the Head of States and Governments Summit Conclusion regarding Turkey and Cyprus, is an indication of EU’s increasing desperation and dissatisfaction on Turkey’s negative attitude to the Cyprus problem.
The paragraph regarding Turkey in the above mentioned Conclusion is as follows: “the Council notes with regret that Turkey has not fulfilled its obligation of full non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement and has not made progress towards normalisation of relations with the Republic of Cyprus. The Council will continue to follow up and review progress made on the issues covered by the declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21 September 2005 in accordance with its conclusions of 11 December 2006 ...... the Council also expects Turkey to actively support efforts to implement the agreed 8th of July process leading to a comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the Union is founded including concrete steps to contribute to a favourable climate for such a comprehensive settlement.” EU needed to remind Turkey the realities. It is clearly understood that Turkey is not worried of being perceived as the party not supporting the 8 July Agreement and the party not wanting a solution in Cyprus.
According to the 21 September 2005 EU Declaration, reminded to Turkey by the EU, Turkey, by not keeping to its promises, is dead locking both itself and the Cyprus problem. The declaration can be summarised as; “The European Community and its Member States stress that the opening of negotiations on the relevant chapters depends on Turkey's implementation of its contractual obligations to all Member States. Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations; The European Community and its Member States recall that the Republic of Cyprus became a Member State of the European Union on 1st May 2004. They underline that they recognise only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law. the European Community and its Member States agree on the importance of supporting the efforts of the UN Secretary General to bring about a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in line with relevant UNSCRs and the principles on which the EU is founded.”
The harsh realities from the Turkish Cypriot’s point of view are well apparent from the above reports and resolutions. According to the ECHR the administration in the North Cyprus is “a subordinate state of Turkey”. EU and UN are, in increasing intensity, pointing out that Turkey and consequently the administration in north Cyprus are not doing what is expected from them, in solving the Cyprus problem. EU and UN are consistently reminding Turkey that the solution will be based on the UN parameters and EU values.
Although, the argument, “...a solution is to be found within the UN framework” is repeated frequently, unfortunately for the Turkish policymakers neither the UN nor the EU parameters are welcomed. While repeating unrealistic assurances that “hold on a bit longer, Greek Cypriots are isolated, isolations on TRNC will be lifted shortly” they overlook the erosion of the Turkish Cypriot’s demographic, economical, social and cultural values. Turkish Cypriot’s communal existence is under serious threat. Should we not move quickly and the solution to the Cyprus problem is still kept coupled with Turkey’s EU accession process, then it will be impossible to even imagine the existence of a Turkish Cypriot community on Cyprus in the coming near future.
Ali Erel - President