A MEETING of prominent Cypriots from both sides of the green line called for unity and tolerance on the road to a united Cyprus joining the EU.
Turkish Cypriots crossed the divide to take part in a bi-communal discussion forum organised by the Cyprus Delegation of the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO).
The forum, which took place at the Nicosia Holiday Inn, was lead by former leader of the Communal Liberation Party, Mustafa Akinçi and Chief Editor of the Kibris Media Group, Süleyman Ergüçlü.
During the discussion, entitled After Copenhagen: Is There Still a Chance For a Solution?, Akinçi assessed the Copenhagen Summit from a Turkish Cypriot point of view.
“Unfortunately, at Copenhagen the Turkish Cypriots were left alone — we had nobody to support our interests there.”
Reviewing the policy of Rauf Denktash, Akinçi said the Turkish Cypriot leader was deliberately attempting to block northern Cyprus’ EU entry.
“Denktash was asking the impossible to avoid the possible. His policy is not in the interest of Turkish Cypriots or Turkey.
“They (those who support him) don’t want to see a solution in Cyprus-they think we should learn to live with the problems.”
“It’s a shame our leader (Denktash) leaves us no option but to criticise him. He is blocking the EU ambitions of both the Turkish Cypriots and Turks.”
Asked if the majority of Turkish Cypriots wanted to join the EU Akinçi said “I’m convinced they want to join the EU — they have proved it to Ankara, to the Greek Cypriots and to the international community.
He also said that Turkish Cypriots did not want EU accession solely for financial reasons.
“Quality of life is not just materialistic. It’s also about human rights, self-rule and multiculturalism.”
Akinçi also highlighted the “real danger” of mass emigration of Turkish Cypriots from the north and the continuing influx of Anatolian Turks into occupied areas if a solution was not found soon.
“The process will accelerate without a solution, for sure,” he warned.
Asked what the Turkish Cypriots expected from the Greek Cypriots, he said
“We don’t want bravos for the demonstrations in the north. What we want is a firm commitment to the Annan Plan — and we aren’t hearing this from the Greek Cypriot side.
“I don’t want to see the killing off of the Annan Plan in the Greek Cypriot Presidential election campaign. We need an unreserved ‘yes,’ ” he added.
Kibris Editor Ergüçlü reiterated the need for a solution.
“We can’t take (the situation) any more, the world can’t take it any more. We should understand what happened in the past but we should leave it there.”
Ergüçlü said lack of confidence between the two sides was a major stumbling block to a solution and asked Greek Cypriots to be “generous” in meeting the concerns and anxieties of Turkish Cypriots.
George Vassiliou, former President and Chief Negotiator for EU accession, reiterated Ergüçlü’s sentiments when asked to comment on the issues raised.
“Absolutely Greek Cypriots have to be generous – we are by far the bigger community, we are more successful economically. We have to stop seeing the situation in terms of Turkey and see it in terms of Cyprus alone.
“We must also face reality and admit that there is no unreserved ‘yes’ to the Annan Plan here in Cyprus. It’s the duty of every Greek Cypriot to listen to the message of the Turkish Cypriots.
“We must also oblige our politicians to stop hiding behind their little fingers and accept the Annan Plan – not just as a basis for negotiations, but as a basis for a lasting solution.”
This view was echoed by Ergüçlü.
“Turkish Cypriots think Greek Cypriot leaders are not taking a solution seriously. As they (Turkish Cypriots) see it, the Greek Cypriot politicians believe they have EU membership in their pocket, and are waiting for April, hoping to avoid signing the Annan Plan.”
“What we need is an establishment based on cooperation and confidence.
Vassiliou warned that a failure to arrive at a solution now could be disastrous.
“It’s dangerous to think the Annan Plan will be forcibly implemented by the international community. We Cypriots are not the centre of the world and once the international community loses interest we will be left with a Cyprus divided for even longer,” he said.
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.
