It’s in your interest to lift sanctions on the north

Sir,
Lifting sanctions off northern Cyprus will benefit the south as well as the north. The harmonisation of wages on both sides of the border and a more stable economy in the north would actually facilitate reunification, as the costs for bringing the north in line with the south are likely to run into billions of Cyprus pounds. This is one of the reasons Greek Cypriots said ‘no’ in the first place. The opposition to lifting sanctions is  built on an idea that by keeping us Turkish Cypriots hostage to a political settlement to your liking, you will ensure reunification. In fact, the opposite is true: if these sanctions continue Turkish Cypriots out of desperation will seek closer links with Turkey, and feeling betrayed by the Greek Cypriots few will vote ‘yes’ in the next referendum, whenever that will be.

Mehmet Hristu, Chislehurst, Kent, UK

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.