This is the Turkish Cypriot’s best chance

Sir,
Why all this fuss from Europe, the US and Turkey about the Annan plan not being accepted and Turkish Cypriots being left out in the cold?

The Turkish Cypriots are now European citizens with all the rights and none of the responsibilities that go with it. They have freedom to move, work and settle anywhere within the Republic of Cyprus including the Turkish occupied areas.

As well as the generous grant the occupation regime will receive from the EU, their people will also be entitled to a share of the financial assistance through the Republic, because, as EU members, the government will not be in a position to deny their entitlement it.

In contrast, funds sent to the occupation regime are likely to be used to assist the bottom end of the social structure; the settlers Turkey used to colonise the area, as they are the most in need.

These are the same settlers Europe, the UN and the US have repeatedly condemned Turkey or shipping in.

The Turkish Cypriot people have never been in a stronger position to make clear to the Turkish army running their regime in Cyprus, that the problem is not the Greek Cypriots but the continuing results of the invasion.

Had the Annan plan demanded the removal of Turkish troops and settlers, and the return of all Cypriots to the land that’s rightfully theirs – as per countless UN resolutions – the US, Britain and the Turkish army would not have allowed it to reach a referendum.

Cyprus, true to its history as a hostage, has yet again become a pawn in the game and a pain in the arse to the powers out to ‘help’ it.
Yiannos Stavrou,
Nicosia.

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.