Is it a price worth paying?

Sir,
The Annan plan asks the Greek Cypriot people to entrust their security, human rights and national freedom to Turkey, based on the remote assumption that the deal in Cyprus will bring Turkey closer to Europe and transform Turkey into a co-operative and democratic European
partner.

The entry of Turkey in the EU is only a remote possibility given the opposition it faces from the big countries in the EU. The new French foreign minister Michel Barnier has stated that France
will reject Turkey’s application to the EU because it fails to meet the requisite political criteria.
“Turkey does not respect the conditions, even if it is preparing to do so,” he said .

How can the Greek Cypriot people be asked to risk their freedom and national existence when France, a country militarily and politically powerful, does not trust Turkey’s motives and intentions?

The vision of reunification that the Annan plan envisages depends entirely on Turkey behaving like a trusted EU partner. The Cypriot politicians and foreign governments and the Cyprus Mail who advocate a ‘yes’ vote should come forward and explain the reasons that Turkey should be trusted with our security and national freedom. Is it a price worth paying?
Constantinos Astreos
Chester

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.