President Christofias reviews Cyprus reunification efforts

The content of this event was all in Greek, though the first clip in this playlist provides some sections spoken in English




Cyprus President Christofias - Reviews Efforts to Reunite Cyprus and its People

Public Meeting,
London,
15th May 2010.

Organised by:
The National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom,
Britannia Road, London, N12 9RU.
Tel: 020 8445 9999 Fax: 020 8445 9977,
http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk
- pressenquiries@cypriotfederation.org.uk

Introductory welcome by Secretary of the National Federation Andreas Karaolis, and formal introduction by President of the National Federation Peter Droussiotis.

The presentation by President Christofias was followed by a Question and Answer session.

The full video of the event is available for online viewing, for downloading in order to view offline, and for embedding in website pages from links available at:
http://bit.ly/cZauqN

Alexander Downer on Resumed Cyprus talks - EPP President Martens on Cyprus problem

(This blog item was delayed from early May)

Cyprus news in English Greek and Turkish reports UN special representative to Cyprus Alexander Downer having a meeting with newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Dervish Eroglu who has agreed to resume reunification talks on the basis of a Federal one state solution to the Cyprus problem as specified in UN resolutions. Also EPP European People’s Party leader and former Prime Minister of Belgium Wilfried Martens visited Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and speaks against lifting trade restrictions with Turkish occupied Cyprus, reiterates support for a Federal solution to the Cyprus problem and calls on Turkey to demonstrate its goodwill towards a Cyprus solution by withdrawing Turkish troops from the island





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HHDR-2_Tp4

CyBC News in English 3rd May 2010

Newdcaster: In northern Cyprus, the UN Secretary General's special adviser on the Cyprus issue Alexander Downer met for the first time with the new Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Dervis Eroglu. Mr Downer said he had made clear to Mr Eroglu that the UN desired the continuation of direct settlement talks from where they left off and on the basis of Security Council resolutions referred to in the joint Christofias-Talat statements of May 23rd and July 1st last year as well as convergences between the two. The UN official said he had made clear that the goal of the talks would be a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality as envisaged in Security Council resolutions and a single international personality. According to Mr Downer the Turkish Cypriot leader told him he would be happy for the talks to continue on this basis and this, as he said, satisfies the UN. Time is of major importance Downer added, and the process can not become open-ended. Downer said that for the talks to resume he (Eroglu) must first conclude the organising of his team on the Cyprus issue, consider documents and prepare his positions. He expressed the view that talks may resume in late May or early June but that he must first hold talks with President Christofias scheduled for tomorrow. Dervis Eroglu said that the process would continue from the point where Mr Christofias and Talat left off and noted that the UN suggested a May 26th resumption. He expects to have contacts in Turkey in the next few days.

Downer: "I went through the exact language with Mr Eroglu, and that is from the United Nations point of view, these negotiations are directed towards achieving a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality and a single international personality, and he is satisfied with that as the basis on which these negotiations can continue, so I can't ask for more than that."

Downer: "We have not specified time lines in the United Nations, but this process just can't be allowed to drag on indefinitely.

(Translated from the Greek) - Eroglu stated that he wishes for the negotiations to be completed within a period of time with a view for the solution to then go to a referendum. He also told Mr Downer his position regarding the lifting of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and said that both sides must approach the negotiations with a will to reach a settlement.

Eroglu (speaking in Turkish, translated from the Greek subtitles provided in the newsbroadcast): It is felt that the negotiations can begin on 26th May. That is the date when the talks can begin, and we will be talking with Mr Christofias. Our wish is for the talks to begin and for a settlement to be reached on the completion of the talks."

(Translation from the Greek report continues:) Before the end of May Mr Eroglu as well as Mr Downer will visit Ankara for talks with the Turkish leadership. Mr Downer will have a meeting with Mr Christofias tomorrow.

(News itm in Turkish was not transcribed)

[The video clip continues with extracts from the CyBC news broadcasts on 4th May]


Transcript of CyBC News in English - 4th May 2010

The United Nations are set to fix the date for the resumption of negotiations aimed at reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem. The talks were interrupted for almost two months because of an election in the occupied areas which resulted in a new leader taking over as Turkish Cypriot negotiator. Alexander Downer told reporters today after meeting President Christofias that the two sides seem happy to resume negotiations in the week starting on May the 24th. He added the exact date will be worked out, but that the most possible date for starting the meetings would be around the 26th.

Mr Downer yesterday met the new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who later said he is ready to resume talks from the point they were left off by his predecessor Mehmet Ali Talat.

Downer said that Eroglu had accepted three preconditions spelled out by the United Nations for the resuming of peace talks. These are that the talks will be conducted on the basis of UN resolutions on Cyprus, they will take into account joint statements by President Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat earlier this year which detailed progress so far, and they will resume from the point they left off before the interruption.

Downer: "On the basis of the parameters defined by the United Nations, the two statements that the two sides issued on the 23rd of May and 1st of July 2008 and on the basis that the talks should pick up from the where they left off earlier this year."

Downer: "Sovereignty is a ... the expression that is used by the United Nations is a single international personality. That's one Cyprus in the sense that there is one Cypriot passport, one Cyprus mission to the United Nations"

(Note: much controversy followed on the point of 'sovereignty' as thus defined in this statement)

Downer: "We asked Mr Eroglu to confirm his committment to Security Council resolutions and to the parameters of these talks. "

Transcribed from the same English News broadcast:

European People's Party President Wilfred Martens has expressed support for a comrehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. Talking to reporters after meeting Cyprus President Demetris Christofias Martens said the solution should be based on UN Security Council resolutions and EU principles. He said the solution must be reached by direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus. He urged Turkey to create a suitable climate for negotiations by withdrawing Turkish forces and allowing free negotiations between the leaders of the two communities. Martens said he also opposed moves in the European Parliament to activate a regulation allowing direct trade between the occupied part of Cyprus and the European Union. He said the European People's Party and its political group in the European Parliament will fight activation of the regulation because such a move would be a real danger to a negotiated solution to the Cyprus problem.

Martens: "We are trying to have a consensus between the main political forces in the European Parliament to oppose this, and to delete that regulation. Also the President here (Christofias) was very firm on this. It would be not only as I said a burden, but also a catastrophe when you try to come to a negotiated solution.

(Extract from the Greek news broadcast on 5th May not translated - it repeats the basic content of the news item in English)

====================

European People’s Party (EPP Wilfried Martens)

EPP European People’s Party leader and former Prime Minister of Belgium Wilfried Martens speaks on Cyprus CyBC TV against lifting trade restrictions with Turkish occupied Cyprus, reiterates support for a Federal solution to the Cyprus problem and calls on Turkey to demonstrate its goodwill towards a Cyprus solution.


Transcript of CyBC Interview broadcast 5th May 2010 on Apo Mera se Mera

Interviewer: Mr President, I'd like to start in a somewhat unorthodox manner -- your book is called "I struggle I overcome" -- here in Cyprus we've been trying to overcome our problem for the past 4 - 5 decades. How do you see the current prospects of the ongoing dialogue that's about to resume in late May or early June. How do you see Turkey's role in it and that of other actors involved?

Martens: It is a long period without a solution, there were several times when people tried to find a solution. The role of Turkey is extremely essential and I am convinced that if Turkey is ready to really negotiate and to accept this global [comprehensive] process of negotiation - that would be a very important argument also for the fundamental question for Turkey, the accession to the European Union. Without a solution for Cyprus, without a global [comrehensive] solution, a decision on the accession negotiations of Turkey to the European Union has to be confirmed by each member state, so I don't see a possibility that every member state of the European Union will accept an eventual accession of Turkey without a solution for Cyprus.

Question: What is the difference do you think that the new leadership of the Turkish Cypriots makes? We've heard Mr Eroglu reiterate his positions on two states and lifting of the so-called isolation and direct trade. What are your views on that and how will that affect the process that is ongoing?

Martens: I don't know the newly elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. I don't know him. In any case, I think it is impossible to accept the premises that there have to be two different states. So I think that only a negotiated solution could be a Federation between the two communities of Cyprus, and not two different independent states in the sense of confederation. And also, the United Nations have said always that in the global [comprehensive] solution you need to create a federation of the two communities.

Question: As former Prime Minister of Belgium you are very well aware of how a federation can work or cannot work. What would you advise two communities seeking a federation?

Martens: In Belgium, I was during thirty years as political leader of my party, and during 12 years as Prime Minister. Under my direction the Belgian unitarian state was transformed to a federal state, and we have three communities and three regions in Belgium - we have the Flemish community, the French-speaking community and the German-speaking community. But I can see also in Belgium people which are not happy with this solution are always speaking about confederation. And so, to create different states -- I call them mini-states, and that is the centre of Europe -- it is unbelievable for me and you can not do that. I remember that there was once a confederation between Egypt and Syria but after a short period this confederation also collapsed. And speaking about Switzerland as a confederation - take the constitution of Swtizerland, it is a Federal state. So this is the only solution, confirmed also in the resolutions of the United Nations. So it is a very - it is an impossible point to start with the conception that there have to be created two different independent states in Cyprus. No. We have to negotiate on a federation between the two communities.

If Turkey really wants to create the conditions for a positive conclusion on the negotiations to become a member of the European Union they have to use their influence also concerning this process of negotiation on Cyprus.


Question: What do you think is the purpose of Turkey's move in the European Parliament on the direct trade regulations and why do you think that certain European forces have accepted this regulation and a few words on the legality of this regulation.

Martens: So. We are convinced - we in the European People's Party and our political group in the European Parliament - that this type of action, and to accept this regulation in the European Union will disturb the global [comprehensive] process, the process of negotiation. So we are against it because it will disturb the process of negotiations . And in any case, our political group in the European Parliament opposed it. If you do not have a majority, in any case, we will ask that this draft regulation will be discussed also in the legal affairs committee of the European Parliament.

Question: Why do you think - and I obviously don't want to put you in a spot - but why do you think the Commission chose to promote this direct trade regulation, particularly at this point in time when there are ongoing negotiations?

Martens: It is a consequence of the Treaty of Lisbon, but the Commission - and I am little bit amazed did not maintain a lot of other obsolete draft regulations - I think that the office of the former responsible Commissioner Olli Rehn proposed it - but I am amazed about this because we are convinced that this will not help the process of negotiation.

Question: How do you see the prospect of this direct trade regulation going forward? Do you think it will be blocked at a legal level?

Martens: Well - it depends on the majority in the European Parliament. We are the strongest group in the European Parliament, the EPP Group, but have not an absolute majority. It will depend on the vote, if they have to vote. But they can also try to have a consensus decision in the European Parliament.

In our Political Group, the leadership of our group, will certainly try to have a consensus between the main political forces of the European Parliament - not to disturb the process of negotiations.

Question: Do you think that Ankara's move also has to do with promoting its own accession aspirations, in that way trying to connect the issues with the Cyprus problem?

Martens: Yes. My first answer to you was that one of the fundamental approaches for Turkey to create a good climate - there is now some progress in the negotiation on accession of Turkey - but to create a good mentality, to create a new atmosphere, a positive atmosphere is extremely important for the Turks to give a positive signal - otherwise there will be no real progress in the negotiations concerning Turkey's accession.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLpSpaywYnc

Appreciating the support of Cyprus by EPP Chairman Daul

Open Email to EPP Chairman Joseph Daul at the European Parliament

Background information:

14 April: Posting at the European Parliament discussion area
"EP and direct trade with Turkish occupied Cyprus"

9 April - EuroNews slant on Turkish Cypriot Elections
7 April - Clarifications about the 'Foul' by EU Enlargement Commissioner Fule against Cyprus
31 March - Stefan Fule anti-Cyprus Foul at the European Union


Dear Mr Daul,

This email is being written to thank you for the statements you made today (reported on the news from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation news tonight) in the presence of Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos and Cyprus MEPs Mr Kassoulides and Ms Theocharous regarding the matter of NOT lifting the restrictions on direct trade with Turkish-occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus prior to a settlement.

I note that there is no announcement on your website on the matter at this time - the meeting did not take place until late in the day, so there may not have been time for your staff to do that as yet, but one hopes this will happen tomorrow.

http://chairman.eppgroup.eu

With so-called-elections (in the presence of so many illegal serttlers from Turkey) taking place in "Northern" Cyprus on Sunday I believe that any UNEQUIVOCAL statements made - making it clear that the prospect of 'recognition' of the 'north' of Cyprus is a NON-STARTER - would be something which is in the interests of the European Parliament and of the EU, as well as being in the interests of the negotiations in Cyprus and the majority of Cypriots (of both Turkish and Greek background).

If also feel that it would be very helpful if any statement which will hopefully be placed on your EPP website tomorrow could also include reference to the European Parliament's resolution in February 2010 - requiring Turkey to begin NOW to withdraw Turkish Troops and settlers and to return the ghost city of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants - would be very helpful to the people of Cyprus.

This message comes to you from a pro-rapprochement Cypriot activist based in the UK, and I would like to bring to your attention (and through you to other members of your staff, you group and MEP's) my own contribution towards reunification of Cyprus through the petitions online at:

http://www.turkishinvasioncyprus.com
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/one-cyprus.html

http://campaignforonecyprus.com

Also - Cyprus-related videos available online at:
http://www.livestream.com/turkish_troops_out_of_cyprus

Copies to:
"Takis HadjiGeorgiou MEP"
"Ioannis Kasoulides MEP"
"Kyriakos Mavronikolas MEP"
"Antigoni Papadopoulou MEP"
"Eleni Theocharous MEP"
"Kyriacos Triantaphyllides MEP"
"Mary Honeyball MEP"
"Charles Tannock MEP"
"Marina Yiannakoudakis MEP"

and to

Peter Doroussiotis
President, National Federation of Cypriots in the UK
http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk

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14 April item on Cyprus Mail regarding the 'Direct Trade with Turkish occupied part of Cyprus' regulation:

Regulation ‘legally and politically wrong’

Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou yesterday charged the European Commission with insisting on a regulation that is legally and politically wrong, referring to efforts to resurrect the direct trade regulation between the EU and the north.

Kyprianou repeated the view given by President Demetris Christofias on Monday that the government was not briefed by the Commission on its intention to communicate the regulation on direct trade to the European Parliament (EP).

The minister said he expected the Commission to have had a consultation with the Republic of Cyprus before choosing to send the issue to the EP last December.

“The European Commission insists on a regulation that is legally and politically wrong,” he said, noting that the regulation does not conform to the 2004 Council conclusions and is against the interests of an EU member state.

EuroNews slant on Turkish Cypriot Elections

Subheading:
EuroNews slant on Turkish Cypriot Elections - with a big invisible Stefan Fule EU elephant in the background




Northern Cyprus divided over elections - Euronews

9th April 2010


Every week for the last 35 years, a small UN convoy delivers a shipment of food, gas and other ncecessities to a diminishing enclave of Greeks living in Northern Cyprus. The island has been divided since 1974 – the year Turkey sent its army to stop what it claimed was an attempted coup d’etat by the Greeks in the south.

Cut off from the rest of the island, these people stayed in their village called Rizokarpaso – which became protected under a UN ceasefire plan. The villagers say they will not leave the village where the were born. They want to die there like their forefathers They fear that if they move south, they’ll be beggars with no houses of their own, and no way of earning a livelihood.

Before 1974, there were 3,000 Greek Cypriots here. Today that number has shrunk to 260. Now, most of Rizokarpaso’s residents are of Turkish origin. They were brought in to farm the land abandoned by the Greek cypriots. In the village centre, the local mosque and orthodox church stand shoulder to shoulder. On one side of the street, Turkish cafés and shops. On the other side, the same, but in Greek.

Ali Karadogan is one of Rizokarpaso 2,500 Turkish settlers who arrived here after 1974. He came from Anatolia and was given farmland. He says he was part of a plan to repopulate empty villages and didnt have a choice. His conscience is clear. He lives in peace with his Greek neighbours.

Although the opening of borders since 2003 has brought more Greek Cypriots to visit Rizokarpaso, few stay. Chris Parpottas is an exception. He returned seven years ago to head the village’s only Greek elementary school. Born and raised here, Parpottas said coming back to his own school was a dream come true even if there are only 20 students. He says he understands the frustration of his older peers who never left and are still waiting for a solution. He himself lost his family home. But despite this loss, he claims he has no hard feelings against the Turkish settlers.

Under the 2004 Annan peace plan, Greek Cypriots would have been able to reclaim their homes in Rizokarpaso. But they would have stayed under Turkish Cypriot control. The Greek side voted no. The Turkish side, yes.

Ragbet Buyukdogan came to Rizokarpaso from Turkey when she was four years old. She lives in a house which belonged to Greek cypriots but doesn’t own it. She pays rent to the Northern Cypriot government. Chris Parpottas is her neighbour. But despite the friendly relations, she says only a solution can make her feel really at home.

Today Ragbet is helping out her younger brother, Sukru who owns a restaurant in Rizokarpaso. They are expecting 50 tourists from Iran. Sukrü was two months old when his family came in 1975. He has never left the island. He feels Cypriot and wants a solution. But he says the European Union has let them down: “Before the referendum, some EU countries promised that if we voted YES, the sanctions would be lifted. If you vote YES, you’ll get direct flights. And what happened? We said YES by a large majority and what did we get out of it? The same line, the same old life. Nothing changed.”

These issues are at the heart of the forthcoming electios in Northern Cyprus which pit current leader Mehmet Ali Talat against Dervis Eroglu, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or TRNC. They are running for the president of a country which is only recognized by Turkey. But although there are only 280,000 Turkish Cypriots, who they vote for on the 18th of April will have a strong political impact way beyond their small borders.

Talat has campaigned for a bi-federal, bi-zonal Cyprus since he was elected in 2005. But a growing number of Turkish Cypriots, tired of the slow pace and disappointed by the EU’s broken promises, want a two-state solution.

Dervis Eroglu and his party of National Unity are campaigning on this promise of a two-state solution – a popular slogan which has become political music to many Turkish Cypriots. Eroglu’s growing popularity in the opinion polls has led to a concern that time is running out not only for a Cyprus solution but for Talat’s re-election.

Talat says he understands the frustration of the Turkish Cypriots but warns a two-state solution is not up for negotiation. There are too many UN security council resolutions which forbid it.

But imagination or not, the latest polls show that Dervis Eroglu is winning. And while this could be a dream for some, it will no doubt be a political nightmare not only for the international community but for Cypriots from both sides who continue to wait for a solution.

----------------

Could the above item by EuroNews possibly be 'tailor made' to help Stefan Fule and the proposal for direct trade with 'northern Cyprus' get a positive vote in the European Parliament on 19th of April as well as to give Talat a boost?

My own comments in uploading the EuroNews item to my youtube were as follows:

While appearing at first hand ever-so fair in its presentation of the issues and ending with incumbent 'President' Mehmet Ali Talat explaining that 'the dream' which 'the electorate' in 'Northern Cyprus' apparently proposes to vote in favour of by supporting his opponent and 'Prime Minister' Dervis Eroglu for a 'two state solution' which is contrary to all UN resolutions the item by EuroNews is a pay-per-slot advert for Turkey's current demand for an upgrade of the 'north' which no country other than Turkey itself provides any recognition to. The invisible Elphant in the election as much as in this reportage by EuroNews is EU Enlargement Commissioner Fule's efforts to get the European Parliament to push through a vote in the European Parliament on 19th April which would be counter to existing EU legislation regarding Cyprus, intended to create new realities through that vote which would run counter to the EU's existing legislation regarding Cyprus, would be counter to those very UN resolutions which Mehmet Ali Talat warns about in the closing section of the video clip, and is likely to be considered both highly immoral and offensive by the majority population of Greek Cypriots and arguably also by many Turkish Cypriots on the island. This is 'rigging democracy' both in the 'North of Cyprus' where the settlers illegally shipped-in from Turkey contrary to the Geneva convention and UN resolutions so they now outnumber indigenous Turkish Cypriots by a factor of 2 to 1 (which the EuroNews report conveniently fails to mention) but it is also an attempt to 'rig the vote' in the EuroParliament to upgrade the statelet Turkey created in the territory of Cyprus which it continues to occupy 36 years after its illegal invasion in order to produce semi-official recognition. This Euronews report is as foul as Fule's own foul against Cyprus within the European Commission, and is intended to serve the interest of appeasing Turkey and easing its way into the EU, rather than serving the interests of CYPRIOTS (both Turkish, and Greek Cypriots).

See the comments in an interview with Cyprus Foreign Minister Kyprianou screened on Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation on 6th April which provides a response by the Republic of Cyprus to what I have termed the Invisible Elephant in both the 'elections' in 'northern Cyprus' and in the engineering by Enlargement Commissioner Fule and certain other forces within the European Union - on this blog here

--------------------------

Meanwhile, at today's Cyprus Mail there was the following article:

Bickering increases over direct trade

By Stefanos Evripidou Published on April 9, 2010

THE EUROPEAN socialists’ call for direct trade between the EU and the north invited a torrent of internal bickering yesterday, just a day after the government’s call for unity on the domestic front.

The government accused socialist EDEK of making “arbitrary” statements and being obsessed with blaming its handling of the Cyprus problem.

The latest incident began when the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the second largest group in the European Parliament (EP), released a statement on Tuesday supporting implementation of the direct trade regulation proposed by the European Commission in 2004.

President of the S&D group Martin Schulz said adoption of the regulation would help improve the Turkish Cypriot economy and facilitate a Cyprus solution. He said his group would support the early adoption of the regulation in the EP, which will discuss it on April 19.

Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule raised a few eyebrows when he recently sent the draft regulation to the EP, returning to an issue first raised six years ago when the EU pledged aid and trade to the Turkish Cypriots as a reward of sorts for their ‘yes’ vote in the Annan plan. In explaining why he had failed to mention the rebirth of the regulation to Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou in their recent meeting, Fule argued that the procedure had started last December with his predecessor, based on the new rules that apply under the Lisbon Treaty.

The Cypriot government had considered the effort to push through direct trade dead in the water based on the argument that this was not a matter of international trade, since northern Cyprus is part of the Republic, as stipulated in Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty. This view was supported by the European Council’s Legal Service which shared a similar legal interpretation.

However, the Commission holds a different view, which coincides with that of Turkey; mainly that the EU has failed to keep its promise to end Turkish Cypriot “isolation”. The latest step by Brussels reveals the draft regulation was more of a dormant volcano than a dead duck. One official source said the move was two-pronged, first, to put pressure on Greek Cypriots for a solution while giving Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat a much-needed push in his re-election bid.

The fact that the S&D group supports the regulation hugely increases its chances of passing the first hurdle, which is the EP.Iit must then pass through the European Council, which will decide using qualified majority voting, meaning the Republic no longer has a veto on the issue.

Schulz’ announcement was met with surprise by the government, the socialist party EDEK which is a member of the S&D group, and the two Cypriot deputies in the EP who also belong to the S&D group, DIKO’s Antigoni Papadopoulos and EDEK’s Kyriacos Mavronicolas.

Following heightened diplomatic activity, Schulz released a second “corrective” statement yesterday saying the S&D’s clear position on Cyprus is that it wants a solution as soon as possible to ensure stability in the region.

“In this sense, we have always supported financial assistance to the Turkish-speaking population and direct trade in order to strengthen the inner-Cypriot integration. However, it is evident, that in parallel the Ankara Protocol must be fully implemented. Turkey must recognise the Republic of Cyprus as it recognises every other EU-member state.”

EDEK and the government exchanged barbs yesterday over who was responsible for the clarification statement.

EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou accused the government of bad handling of the Cyprus problem, which had brought on negative international developments and invited pressure exclusively on the Greek Cypriot side, he said.

Meanwhile, Omirou attributed the second S&D statement to the actions of his party, saying he had spoken to them about the need for a corrective statement.

This in turn invited a volley of fire from government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou who said Schulz’ initial statement had nothing to do with the actions of the Greek Cypriot side.

“What madness is this... I think we should all be more careful not to create wrong impressions,” said Stefanou. He accused Omirou of trying to take all the glory for the second corrective statement when in fact President Demetris Chritofias had made intensive efforts along with Greek MEPs from socialist PASOK to counter the S&D position, resulting in a phone call between Christofias and Schulz and the subsequent second statement.

The spokesman noted that Christofias had the courtesy to inform Omirou about the latest development by phone. “Mr Omirou omitted to mention this,” said Stefanou, adding, “If Mr Omirou was going to be fair, he should have referred to that and not said ‘we acted to get this result’, because it was the president that had informed him of it.”

EDEK hit back saying that Omirou was referring to the actions that he and his MEP Mavronicolas had taken to handle the issue.

Meanwhile, the two MEPs, Papadopoulos and Mavronicolas, acknowledged in a letter to Schulz that they had not been informed by the S&D prior to its decision to support direct trade.

My own comment at the Cyprus Mail article was:

This is smelling filthier and filthier on the part of the EU as each day progresses.

But there again, international politics is indeed a pretty filthy business when it comes to serving those interests which do wish to get Turkey into the EU !

The interests of those who consider themselves Cypriots - whether Greek or Turkish Cypriots - are not best served when, while all of that is going on, we just "bicker" amongst ourselves !

-----------

Also:

EDEK leader Giannakis Omirou was interviewed (in Greek) on Apo Mera se Mera at the start of the program (click on item 09/04/2010 at the link below) today about the Schultz statement yesterday

http://www.cybc.com.cy/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=139

Stefan Fule anti-Cyprus Foul at the European Union

See also the follow-up to this item on this blog, here

News Broadcasts in English and Greek on 26th March 2010 from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation report the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule being accused in no uncertain terms of perpetrating a 'Foul' during a press conference during the 26th March EU Leader's summit by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias. The world's press certainly did not cover the story at all. The Cyprus President reported that neither EU Commission President Barosso, nor the current Spanish Presidency of the EU were aware of the actions of the Enlargement Commissioner. Cyprus Foreign Minister Kyprianou, who had had a meeting with Commissioner Fule earlier in the week had also not been informed of the Commissioner's intention which he was apparently intending to make to one of the subcommittees of the European Parliament which could bring the matter of direct trade with 'northern' Cyprus to a vote in the full Parliament.

Party spokespersons provide their reactions.






News in Greek from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation on 27th March 2010 and News in Turkish reports the same story. Cyprus Euro-MPs, and political party spokesman are interviewed on the matter. EU's Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule was accused in no uncertain terms of perpetrating a 'Foul' during a press conference during the 26th March EU Leader's summit by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.

Metamorphosis after 36 years

(With apologies that the content of the video above, has not been translated into English)

The item quoted below, written by Sener Levent of the Turkish Cypriot newspaper 'Afrika' is presented in an English translation by me as well as in its original Greek version which was published as an open letter he had sent to Greek Cypriot Politis newspaper - it was his response to the articles written in the Greek press (by Stephanos Evripidou in the Cyprus Mail and by Makarios Drousiotis in Politis and Katerina Iliadi in Alithia) following a historic press conference on 27th February 2010 in Ankara by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan specifically for Cypriot journalists.

It is provided on this blog to mark the meeting in London yesterday between British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (video and transcript here). It is also provided as a response to an article on another blog I had cause to leave a comment on, 'Cyprus Spring' here, and as a follow-up to an article on this weblog expressing my concerns about British policy on Cyprus 'Scandalous British duplicity over Cyprus'.

As background on Tayyip Erdogan's policies on other 'key issues' such as the Kurdish problem, and the Armenian Genocide issue, readers will also find it interesting to read the Taner Akcam: Open Letter to the Prime Minister, and the commentary by Brussels Think Tank columnist at Zaman Amanda Paul - Turkey blames everybody but itself.

An article in EurActive, Füle stumbles on Cyprus problem on first Turkey visit shows how, after both the Kurdish and Armenian 'normalisation' initiatives have failed, because of Turkey's insincerity, Turkey's implementation of inverse logic comes to the fore. Turkish diplomacy now has the cheek to argue that despite the fact that Turkey had tried and failed to bloc Cyprus's EU entry through threatening dire consequences if Cyprus were allowed to join (which actually led the EU to decide that Turkey should not be allowed to have veto power over the island's EU-entry), combined with its own active non-contribution towards solving the island's problem prior to EU entry (until that very last minute and extremely desperate Kofi Annan debacle tried to 'fix things' for Turkey) - Ahmet Davutoglu now tries to argue that it was the EU which made a mistake in allowing Cyprus to join, and argues that Turkey's own accession process now should be delinked from the Cyprus problem it created for itself ! The only thing Füle had stumbled about was in not publicly reminding Turkey of the resolutions which the European Parliament had recommended for Turkey - withdrawing Turkish troops, giving back Famagusta, and beginning to withdraw its settlers!


But, lets get back to that open letter by a much-respected Turkish Cypriot veteran journalist - Sener Levent:

"Metamorphosis after 36 years"

"We have not yet become the cocroach which existed in Kafka's 'Metamorphosis'1, but I am in no doubt that something is happening to us. Our Head. Our heart. Everything is in place, but our feelings and our thoughts have been distorted.

"We are living through this for the first time, we are feeling these things for the first time. For the first time since 1974.

"We admire our conqueror. We like him, oh that I don't cast the evil eye on him. Not because we are both Turkish. He is admired also by many of our brothers, the Greek Cypriots.

"Ayse has surpassed the years when it had difficulties on the island. Now she is living through the brightest, the quietest time in her period here. With its forty thousand soldiers. In these lands of ours which are surrounded by barbed wire.

"Now it is a liberator also for the Greek Cypriots, not only for us.

"Some of our Greek Cypriot commpatriots now say "Erdogan", and the honey drips from their mouth. He is admired also by Cristos Christodoulou, columnist for the newspaper "Embros" of Western Thrace. He wrote an article in the newspaper. Erdogan liked the article a lot. He searched for him and he found him in Crete. He rang him. They talked. He thanked him for his article and he invited him to Turkey. "Come to drink some coffee" he said to him. How can the man not be emotional, since he has been telephone by this personage, the Prime Minister; "I will go to Ankara and I will drink his coffee" said Christoulou. He who likens him to Ataturk. Erdogan, he says, has "raised the stakes for modernisation in Turkey". Just read what he says: "If Ataturk were alive, he would surely pick Erdogan in his place".

"I call this metamorphosis. You can call it what you like. For 36 years our map has been cut in half. One of our towns is occupied by snakes and centipedes. It came and established itself with its population, not only with its army. Whenever it wants to, it rants. We have not withdrawn even a single soldier. We didn't give up not even one handful of land. And we admire him.

"We are alarmed as soon as he says "I may withdraw our troops", our heart misses a beat. We are such an innocent people, here in the open seas. We believe in magic and in reading coffe cups. We search for our destiny in our coffee. If they say to us that "after a count of three you will find a path" we think that after a count of three this path will lead to paradise.

"You are very interested in our elections. Don't be worried. There is nothing to be worried about. Everything is alright. Do you really think an Eroglu will come along to spoil the plans of the invador for a solution? The lion of lions, he who could not intimidate the generals will intimidate Erdogan? What's this panic all about? Do you really want to force the crows to laugh? One way or another, the crows have been bursting their sides laughing these last three days. They laughed for the first time, when they heard that Erdogan is the "second Ataturk". Even the city walls of Famagusta developed cracks at seven different places from their laughter.

"The second reason for the loud laughter was Nicos Anastasiades. Did he not say that the timing of the resolution by the House in relation to guarantees was wrong? Well, why don't you now try to stop the crows laughter?

"Even the columnists of "Afrika" who praise this decision were frozen. We ask ourseves whether we too have made a mistake in our coordination. Thats the way it is. Save the hay, its time will come! And, what are the guarantees other than a bale of hay?

"But, if we were unable to separate the two donkey's straw, are we perchance to blame? Naturally not. Its the metamorphosis which is to blame. Its all a matter of "metamorphosis". Okay so we are Turks. He is a Turk and we are too. He came, and allegedly he saved us. And we are still paying for this.

"But you there - what's the matter with you?"

1 - Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis

"Μεταμόρφωση μετά από 36 χρόνια"

"Ακόμη δεν μεταμορφωθήκαμε στην κατσαρίδα που υπήρχε στη μεταμόρφωση του Κάφκα, αλλά δεν έχω καμία αμφιβολία ότι κάτι μας συμβαίνει. Το κεφάλι μας. Η καρδιά μας. Όλα βρίσκονται στη θέση τους, αλλά παραμορφώθηκαν τα αισθήματα και οι σκέψεις μας. Πρώτη φορά τα ζούμε αυτά, πρώτη φορά τα νιώθουμε. Πρώτη φορά μετά το 1974. Θαυμάζουμε τον κατακτητή μας. Τον συμπαθούμε, να μην τον ματιάσω. Όχι επειδή είμαστε και οι δυο Τούρκοι. Τον θαυμάζουν και πάρα πολλοί από τα αδέλφια μας τους Ελληνοκύπριους. Η Αϊσιέ ξεπέρασε τα χρόνια που αντιμετώπιζε δυσκολίες στο νησί. Τώρα περνάει την πιο λαμπρή, την πιο ήσυχή της περίοδο εδώ. Με τις σαράντα χιλιάδες στρατιώτες της. Στα εδάφη μας που είναι περιτριγυρισμένα με τέλια. Τώρα πια είναι απελευθερωτής και για τους Ελληνοκύπριους, όχι μόνο για εμάς. Κάποιοι Ελληνοκύπριοι συνάδελφοί μας λένε «Ερντογάν» και στάζει μέλι από το στόμα τους. Τον θαυμάζει και ο Χρίστος Χριστοδούλου, αρθρογράφος της εφημερίδας «Εμπρός» της Δυτικής Θράκης. Έγραψε ένα άρθρο στην εφημερίδα. 'Αρεσε πολύ το άρθρο αυτό στον Ερντογάν. Τον έψαξε και τον βρήκε στην Κρήτη. Του τηλεφώνησε. Μίλησαν. Τον ευχαρίστησε για το άρθρο του και τον προσκάλεσε στην Τουρκία. «Έλα να πιούμε καφέ», του είπε. Ε, δεν νιώθει συγκίνηση ο άνθρωπος άμα του τηλεφωνά κοτζάμ Πρωθυπουργός; «Θα πάω στην 'Αγκυρα και θα πιω τον καφέ του», λέει ο Χριστοδούλου. Και αυτός τον παρομοιάζει με τον Ατατούρκ. Ο Ερντογάν, λέει, «σήκωσε το μπαϊράκι του εκσυγχρονισμού στην Τουρκία». Κοιτάξτε τι λέει: «Αν ζούσε ο Ατατούρκ, θα διάλεγε σίγουρα τον Ερντογάν στη θέση του».

"Εγώ το αποκαλώ αυτό μεταμόρφωση. Εσείς πείτε το ό,τι θέλετε. Εδώ και 36 χρόνια ο χάρτης μας είναι μισός. Μια από τις πόλεις μας βρίσκεται κάτω από την κατοχή των φιδιών και των σαρανταποδαρουσών. Ήρθε και εγκαταστάθηκε εδώ με τον πληθυσμό της, όχι μόνο με τον στρατό της. Και όποτε γουστάρει κομπάζει. Δεν αποσύραμε ούτε ένα στρατιώτη. Δεν δώσαμε ούτε σπιθαμή εδάφους. Και εμείς τον θαυμάζουμε. Σαστίζουμε. Μόλις πει «μπορεί να αποσύρω στρατό» η καρδιά μας από τη θέση της. Διότι είμαστε πολύ αγαθοί άνθρωποι εμείς εδώ στη μέση της θάλασσας. Πιστεύουμε στα μάγια και στο φλιτζάνι. Ψάχνουμε την τύχη στον καφέ. Αν μας πουν «μετά από τρία θα σου παρουσιαστεί ένας δρόμος», νομίζουμε ότι μετά από τρεις μέρες ο δρόμος αυτός θα οδηγήσει στον παράδεισο.

"Ενδιαφέρεστε πολύ για τις εκλογές μας. Μην ανησυχείτε. Δεν υπάρχει οτιδήποτε για να ανησυχείτε. Όλα είναι εντάξει. Μήπως νομίζετε ότι θα έρθει ο Έρογλου και θα χαλάσει τα σχέδια του κατακτητή για λύση; Μήπως ο λέοντας των λεόντων που δεν μπόρεσε να λυγίσει τους στρατηγούς θα λυγίσει τον Ερντογάν; Τι είναι αυτός ο πανικός; Μήπως θέλετε να κάνετε τα κοράκια να γελάσουν με το ζόρι; Ούτως ή άλλως, τα κοράκια έσκασαν στα γέλια τις τρεις τελευταίες μέρες. Έσκασαν για πρώτη φορά τα γέλια όταν άκουσαν ότι ο Ερντογάν είναι ο «δεύτερος Ατατούρκ». Ακόμη και τα τείχη της Αμμοχώστου παρουσίασαν ρωγμές σε επτά σημεία από τα γέλια. Ο δεύτερος λόγος για τα δυνατά γέλια ήταν ο Νίκος Αναστασιάδης. Δεν είπε ότι ήταν λανθασμένος ο χρόνος της απόφασης της βουλής σε σχέση με τις εγγυήσεις; Ε, σταμάτησε τώρα αν μπορείς τα κοράκια που έσκασαν στα γέλια. Πάγωσαν ακόμη και οι αρθρογράφοι της «Αφρίκα» που επαινούν αυτή την απόφαση. Διερωτώμαστε αν και εμείς έχουμε διαπράξει λάθος στο συγχρονισμό μας. Έτσι είναι. Φύλαγε το σανό, θα έρθει η ώρα του! Και οι εγγυήσεις τι άλλο είναι εκτός από μια δέσμη σανό;

"Όμως, αν δεν μπορέσαμε να χωρίσουμε δύο γαϊδάρων άχυρο, μήπως εμείς φταίμε; Φυσικά και όχι. Φταίει η μεταμόρφωση. Το ζήτημα είναι ζήτημα «μεταμόρφωσης». 'Αντε, εμείς είμαστε Τούρκοι. Και εκείνος είναι Τούρκος και εμείς. Ήρθε δήθεν και μας έσωσε. Και ακόμη πληρώνουμε γι΄ αυτό. Εσάς εκεί, τι σας συμβαίνει;"

Toυ Σενέρ Λεβέντ
Κωδικός άρθρου: 932998
ΠΟΛΙΤΗΣ - 05/03/2010, Σελίδα: 13