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'We have to accept Cyprus problem and seek a solution'
Germany's visiting chancellor yesterday urged the international community to accept the existence of a problem on Cyprus and called on both sides to produce solutions, in an indirect message to the Greek Cypriot leadership, which has long blocked solution efforts.
"Turkey should implement the Ankara Protocol. The wish of all the European Union member states is to cooperate to achieve free trade and free access to all ports and harbors," Chancellor Angela Merkel said in her message to Turkey.
Merkel, visiting Turkey for the first time since becoming German chancellor, made the remarks during a joint press conference with her Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan following their bilateral talks in Ankara.
Merkel also expressed German support for proposals such as the Finnish plan that aims at reaching a compromise on Cyprus and ports issue to avoid a possible "train crash" in Turkey's relations with the Union and said, "As far as I can tell, Turkey is also warm to the Finnish proposal."
Upon the call of Merkel, the Turkish premier expressed the Turkish stance towards the implementation of the Ankara Protocol, stressing that Turkey won't open its ports and harbors to the Greek Cypriots unless the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is ended.
"The leaders of 2004 pushed Turkey to support the solution plan on Cyprus," said Erdogan. "We did so. However, although the Turkish Cypriots who voted in favor of the plan were punished, the Greek Cypriots who voted against it were rewarded." Stressing that Turkey didn't even block the membership of the Greek Cypriot administration in the Customs Union although Ankara had a trump card to play against them, Erdogan said, "We have always acted in a sincere way."
"Is Northern Cyprus a haven to terrorism or is it a place for money laundering? Why is it still subject to isolation?" Erdogan also asked.
Erdogan also thanked Merkel for her country's support to Turkey's membership bid in the EU, expressing hope that this support would continue in an increasing way during Germany's EU term presidency, which will begin next January.
Cyprus has been divided between a Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot south since 1974 when Turkey intervened in the island to stop a coup by supporters of union with Greece (enosis).
Although the Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of the Annan plan, its international isolation continued, while the Greek Cypriots who rejected the plan became a member of the EU in 2004.
Erdogan, Merkel determined to work for integration
Both Erdogan and Merkel expressed their countries' decisiveness to work for the better integration of resident Turks in German society.
During the press conference, while Erdogan said that he expressed Ankara's expectations from Berlin for improving the situation of Turks living in Germany, Merkel pledged to support the language education of Turks, stressing that learning German is a priority for better integration. Merkel also cited the reality that Turks lag behind in education in Germany since they face difficulties learning German.
The German chancellor also praised the Turkish decision to establish a German-language university in Turkey, underlining that this will be the continuation of the cultural dialogue mechanism established by the foreign ministers of the two countries.
Touching on the dialogue between Turkey and Germany on international issues, Merkel said, "Although the parliamentary process was difficult in both of the countries, the two countries decided to send forces to the international peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Our views on Iran's nuclear issue also overlap."
The German chancellor arrived in Turkey on Thursday for a two-day visit and paid her respects at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey's founder. Following her bilateral talks with Erdogan, Merkel was also received yesterday by the Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Merkel accompanied by Erdogan and the German business delegation will head to Istanbul on late Thursday to participate today in the Turkish-German Business Forum which will be organized by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) at Ciragan Palace.
Merkel is also set to meet with Muslim and Christian religious leaders, including Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos. During the key meeting, she is expected to urge Turkey to open Heybeliada Seminary on the island of Halki and make progress on the rights of religious minorities. The Turkish government closed the seminary to new students in 1971, and the EU has pressed for it to reopen.
Source: TheNewAnatolian.com / 2006-10-04
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