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Talat calls for lifting of isolations on Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat received representatives of the Famagusta Port Joint Power Platform headed by Akil Agaoglu on October 2. The Platform was set up by the Cyprus Turkish Shipping Agencies Association, the Cyprus Turkish Dockers' Company, the Cyprus Turkish International Transport Association and the Ozkam Truck Owners Association in reaction to the recent proposal submitted by EU Term President Finland that envisages the operation of the Famagusta Port by the EU.
Varosha part of a comprehensive settlement
Agaoglu stated that there were a series of proposals from Finland that were being discussed with Varosha being one but that is a political issue and should be taken up within a comprehensive settlement. The opening of the ports was also on the agenda but, Agaoglu said, the EU by combining Turkey's EU membership with the Cyprus issue was trying to usurp the Turkish Cypriots' rights and this could not be accepted. He also pointed out that Famagusta Port was open to international traffic and that it was giving harbourage to ships carrying flags of all countries. He added: "As was stated in the Annan plan, we will do our best to ensure that our ports are controlled only by the Turkish Cypriots."
Isolations unjust
For his part, the Turkish Cypriot President commented that on 26 April 2004 the EU and on 28 May 2004 the UN called upon the international community to lift the isolations of the Turkish Cypriots. Talat said: "The world thought and concluded that the Turkish Cypriots' isolation should end because, it would be an injustice if the Greek Cypriot side, who rejected the unification, continues to isolate the Turkish Cypriots and represent Cyprus to the whole world." Talat said that at the point reached, the issue of "giving every concession to the Greek Cypriots" in return for the lifting of the isolations came onto the agenda, adding that the Greek Cypriots requested Turkey to open its ports, the transfer of the operation of Famagusta port to third parties and the return of Varosha through the UN.
Imbalanced requests
Pointing to a great imbalance in the requests of the Greek Cypriot side, Talat said the issue of the lifting of the isolations has been brought to a improper point in principle. He added that the isolations should not be lifted in return for giving concessions and promises to the Greek Cypriots or by putting preconditions - but in order to end the punishment of the Turkish Cypriots who desired unification.
Talat, drawing attention that the sensitivity of the Famagusta Joint Forces Platform was appropriate, said: "Famagusta Port belongs to the Turkish Cypriots within a settlement plan. This is very clear and has been envisaged by all the settlement plans until today. Therefore, sharing power on the Famagusta Port with the Greek Cypriot side through the EU means taking a backward step and sacrificing our rights."
Finnish proposal originally Greek Cypriot
President Talat stated that he became aware of the issue last week and described this as a "serious situation" and said that after Finland's ambassador to Cyprus' statements appeared in the newspapers, he felt obliged to visit him explaining that this proposal was in fact originally submitted to the EU by Greek Cypriot President Papadopoulos in September 2004. Talat said this proposal was inspired by Papadopoulos' proposals made in order to camouflage his embarrassment. Referring to the news that appeared in the press to the effect that Turkey was ready to show the good will to negotiate Finland's proposal, President Talat said: "To negotiate doesn't mean to accept," and added that Turkey had put forward its stance on this issue, which was the lifting of the Turkish Cypriots' isolations and the opening of Turkey's air and sea ports to the Greek Cypriot side simultaneously."
Source: ObserverCyprus.com / 2006-10-06
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