TURKISH Cypriot ‘prime minister’ Mehmet Ali Talat has written to the Prime Ministers of 24 EU nations calling on them to honour pledges made before and after the referendum on the Annan plan to help lift Turkish Cypriots out of economic and political isolation.
Talat’s letter asks for the release of 259 million euros and technical support pledged to the community by the EU to help it prepare its infrastructure and administration for the implementation of the acquis communautaire in the north.
He insists that direct trade and the opening to international traffic of the air and sea ports in the north are the only ways to end the decades-old isolation.
He also focuses on what he sees as an injustice that, “despite voting to accept the Annan plan’s implementation and membership of the EU, we have remained outside the EU. The Greek Cypriots, on the other hand, rejected the plan, but are now fully-fledged members”.
The letter claims that Turkish Cypriots view themselves as “European” and wish to become full members “as soon as possible”. He adds that Turkish Cypriots having individual right through the ownership of Republic of Cyprus passports is not sufficient.
“We are demanding much more than just that,” he said.
Talat is insistent also that Greek Cypriots in the European Parliament should not be seen as representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community – a direct reference to the row that broke out over the European Parliamentary elections on June 13 in which only 503 Turkish Cypriots have registered to vote.
Talat is angered by President Tassos Papadopoulos’ refusal to allocate two of the six Cypriot seats in the European Parliament to Turkish Cypriots – a system envisaged by the Annan plan.
Referring to the Green Line regulation created by the European Commission to ease trade and human traffic over the cease-fire line, Talat says: “We do not believe that trade between the two parts of the island will bring great benefits, and for us to export through the south raises many legal obstacles.”
His call for direct trade and direct travel links will sound alarm bells in the south and raise accusations that he his seeking full recognition of the breakaway state. But Talat is adamant his administration is intent on finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and is not seeking recognition of the current status quo.
“Our aim is to see a solution to the Cyprus problem at the earliest possible date,” he stresses.
The failure of the Annan plan referendum, he believes, stems from President Papadopoulos’ rejection of the plan and urges European leaders to use their influence to put pressure on Papadopoulos to change his negative “them-and-us” attitude towards a power-sharing agreement.
The letter also urges the EU to back the Turkish Cypriot administration’s attempts to take steps towards implementing EU norms in the north, but insists such steps will only be possible with the help of the bloc.
“We call on you to be more open and specific about what you can do for our people,” he adds.
President Papadopoulos was not included on the list of leaders to receive Talat’s letter.
