The government has no objection to the US handing over £30.5 million in aid to end Turkish Cypriot economic isolation but does not agree with the way Washington has presented the move.
“The justification is really false,” said Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides Chrysostomides. “The reasons put forward are not really substantiated. They are talking about the isolation without really recognising the real reasons of the isolation.”
Chrysostomides was responding to comments by US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher that Turkish Cypriot economic isolation was due to “bureaucratic and other procedures”.
“This is not about recognition, this is not about the Turkish army,” said Boucher in response to questions. “This is about supporting the Turkish-Cypriots who sought to join a new arrangement that would get all Cypriots into Europe. It’s about a community that’s been isolated by the world, by the trading nations of the world because bureaucratic and other procedures have prevented them from selling their goods directly. They’ve prevented them from using their ports and airports directly. And that basically isolated them.”
Chrysostomides said the government knows that Boucher was not speaking of recognition and that the measures are aimed at the economic integration of the island with the ultimate aim of reunification.
“We agree with the objective of the economic uplifting of the Turkish Cypriot community but he talks about their isolation due to bureaucratic procedures,” said Chrysostomides. “The isolation, it should be emphasised, is due to the illegal occupation and presence of the Turkish military in the northern part contrary to international law, to which the US adheres. The real reason is neither bureaucratic nor procedural.”
Boucher said neither the Greek Cypriots nor the Turkish forces were responsible for the Turkish Cypriot isolation. When it was put to him that the Turkish Cypriots could move their goods through the Republic, Boucher said: “You know as well as I do that that never works, that that was never feasible in any practical terms.”
Chrysostomides also criticised Boucher’s comment on the opening of the ports and airports in the north. The State Department spokesman said the US felt it was time for the international community to find ways to fly in and out of the north “to let them travel more freely, as other people from Cyprus already do”.
“This is not about a legal, formalistic, diplomatic recognition policy. It’s not about a state. It’s about letting people trade, about letting people travel. It’s about letting people become more part of Europe since they have evidenced their own desire to become more a part of Europe,” said Boucher.
Chrysostomides said opening the ports and airports was a sovereign right of the state “and the state has the privilege and exclusive discretion to establish ports of entry and exit from its territory,” he said.
“The northern part of Cyprus is part of the territory of the Republic, and in accordance with Treaty of Accession has joined the EU, although the acquis is suspended. The lifting of the suspension would have to be decided by the European Council unanimously and this lifting refers to partial or whole lifting of the aquis.”
The spokesman said the US had not consulted the government about the financial aid it was planning to give to the north but he said they were expecting some sort of measures would be taken at the same time as the EU.
The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a package for the Turkish Cypriots, including 259 million euros, and regulations governing inter-island and direct trade, something the government opposes.
Boucher said the US supported the EU package and denied that its support had anything to do with the Greek Cypriot ‘no’ to the Annan reunification plan in April’s referendum.
“I think we have made very clear we’re not punishing anybody,” he said. “We are taking steps to ease the isolation of Turkish- Cypriots. This is about giving them the wherewithal and the ability to become closer to Europe. And in fact this is about maintaining the aspiration of the Turkish-Cypriot community to be part of a united Cyprus in Europe. We think it’s time to let them do that. We think that’s a sentiment that deserves support and encouragement. And to the extent the United States can do that, through its aid programs, through measures we’ve already announced allowing people to travel a little bit more freely, giving them longer visas and things like that, we’re going to do that too.”
