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Let the talks begin
Welcome action by EU parliament on cultural heritage
State ‘neglected duty’ to look into missing evidence
Turkey told it cannot link trade to ports opening
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Ambassador of Finland

The Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Ambassador of FinlandThe Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Yiorgos Lillikas had a meeting today with the Ambassador of Finland to Cyprus, Mr Risto Piiponen. After the meeting Mr Lillikas made the following statement: “My meeting with the Finnish Ambassador aimed at two fundamental issues. First, we discussed issues which interest the Finnish Presidency of the EU and on which the Presidency wanted our views and the cooperation of the Cyprus Government, as well as issues that concern Cyprus, such as the regulation regarding the port and the city of Famagusta. The second main pivot of the meeting was the preparation of the meeting I will have on Tuesday, with the Foreign Minister of Finland, during my presence in Brussels. Of course the issue of Turkey’s accession course was also discussed as well as the way in which the discussion is expected to be carried out in the European Union, after the Report by the Commission.“ - 12.7.2006

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President Papadopoulos returned from Athens

President Papadopoulos returned from Athens“The cooperation between Athens and Nicosia has not only been fruitful but also fully-coordinated, and I am certain that it will continue in the next months”. The above statement was made by the President of the Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos in Athens, after his meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Mr Costas Karamanlis, a statement which sums up the essence of the talks that the President had with the Greek political leadership. Following the conclusion of his contacts yesterday which included separate meetings with the leaders and representatives of the Greek political parties which are represented in the Greek Parliament, President Papadopoulos returned to Cyprus last night. In a statement on his arrival at Larnaca airport, the President said that in the framework of their regular coordination, Cyprus and Greece have determined their future strategy on the Cyprus issue. Asked if he would meet with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mr Matthew Bryza during his visit to Cyprus, President Papadopoulos confirmed that he would not meet with Mr Bryza. Invited to comment on a statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul that the issue of withdrawing Turkish troops from Cyprus and returning the occupied town of Famagusta was not on the agenda, the President said: “the withdrawal of the troops is one of the core issues of the Cyprus problem. I think that any settlement of the Cyprus problem should provide for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus, particularly in view of the fact that Turkey has a particular policy of joining the EU. It would be absolutely inconceivable for a candidate country and later a member state to maintain troops in another member state, against the will of its Government and its people. As far as Famagusta is concerned, the issue of Famagusta has been linked since the EU Luxembourg Presidency and later during the Austrian Presidency, with the discussions on the second regulation of the European Union.” - 12.7.2006




US welcomes the outcome of the meetings of Ibrahim Gambari, President Tassos Papadopoulos and Mehmet Ali Talat

The US State Department Spokesman Mr Sean McCormack stated yesterday, during his regular press briefing, that the US welcomes the outcome of the meetings of UN Undersecretary General Ibrahim Gambari, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. "We welcome the outcome of the meetings of U.N. undersecretary-general Ibrahim Gambari and Cypriot President Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Talat. We look forward to the start of talks by the end of the month, as agreed by the leaders, on both everyday and substantive issues. We hope that the agreed formula will set the stage for comprehensive negotiations on the Cyprus issue" he said, adding that "As always, we stand ready to assist the U.N. and the two sides in this important effort, and continue to encourage the parties to remain flexible and engaged''. Asked what happened to the Annan plan, McCormack replied: ''We think that this is a -- this is certainly a promising development and we're going to try to build on it''. - 12.7.2006

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Babacan warns Brussels against consequences of Cyprus setback
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
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» UK vows to work to avoid Turk-EU train wreck
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» Babacan warns Brussels against consequences of Cyprus setback
» US official enthusiastic ahead of BTC inauguration
»
Greek Cyprus threatens to snub Bryza over visit to KKTC
» Israel helps Turkey reach out to Gaza
» MEPs postpone debate on Turkey report, leave room for positive developments
»
Saudi Arabian king to pay landmark visit to Turkey
»
Babacan warns of consequences of killing Turkey’s EU bid


ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

If Turkey's European Union accession process is derailed due to the deep-seated Cyprus problem, the consequences will be very dangerous and far beyond the imagination, Turkey's top EU negotiator warned yesterday.

If it fails, very few people will blame Cyprus, Babacan was quoted as saying during a meeting with foreign media in Istanbul. Instead, it will be taken as a message that East and West don't mix'. Babacan said some in the EU were using Cyprus as an arm-twisting tool, while others used anti-Turkish rhetoric to gain votes in member countries where citizens are weary of further enlargement.

The feeling of unfairness is quite widespread among Turks, he said. Turks are being asked to do more and more things unilaterally.

Babacan also said Parliament may convene earlier than scheduled to pass an EU-inspired reform package. Parliament may be back from recess earlier than normal, maybe in September, he said. Parliament went on a recess before passing the 9th Harmonization Package.

Brussels has repeatedly warned Turkey of a slowdown in the reform process as well as on the stalemate over Cyprus, which threatens to block the country's entry process if Ankara refuses to open its ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot traffic by the end of this year.

Britain, a staunch supporter of Turkey's EU bid, pledged to keep Turkey's accession talks on track despite a rift between Ankara and Brussels over Cyprus.

While in Washington, Britain's new foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, said Britain and a number of other EU nations would do whatever they can to avoid a crisis.

Christian Democrats Delay Progress Report on Turkey
By Anadolu News Agency (AA), Zaman, Brussels
Published: Wednesday, July 12, 2006
zaman.com

The European Parliament (EP) Foreign Affairs Commission has postponed debates over a draft progress report on Turkey until September.

Dutch parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings, a member of the Christian Democrat Party, said they did not have enough time to combine the proposed amendments.

“The report should not be hastily debated. When the issue is Turkey, it needs to be discussed in greater detail.”

The Commission will discuss the report during a session in the first week of September in Strasbourg before it is sent to the general assembly.

The Christian Democrats have purportedly postponed the report in order to negatively affect the contents of the report, while others believe the report was delayed in order to ensure inclusion of the recent positive developments in Turkey.

Speaking at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Commission, representatives from political groups stressed that recently, positive developments on the Cyprus issue should be included in the report.

There were also certain reforms regarding women and animal rights, compulsory religious education and the mater of Alevis.

The same representatives recalled that the EU Commission’s Progress Report on Turkey will also be debated in the fall, and highlighted the importance of releasing both reports at the same time.

However, some EP sources suggested that the Christian Democrats deliberately postponed the report in order to negatively influence Report and to create a Cyprus crisis between Turkey and the EU.

The same sources reported that harsh exchanges have broken out between political groups over the Armenian issue, which, is frequently raised by the Christian Democrats, who remain hesitant about Turkey’s entry into the EU.

The Christian Democrat group has been commissioning reports on Turkey for years.

EU parliamentarians and political groups will not be able to make motions for amendments to be included in the report.

However, developments will be included in Turkey's report through compromise motions upon Eurlings’ approval.

The draft report calls on Turkey to accelerate the implementation of reforms in line with the reform process, focusing mainly on freedom of speech, religious and minority rights, civilian-military relations, women's rights, trade unions, cultural rights and the autonomy of the judiciary.

The report welcomes the 9th reform package prepared by the government of the ruling Justice and Development Party, and asks Turkey to remove any item from the Counterterrorism Act that restricts basic rights and freedoms.

The report stated that government officials, military and security personnel shouldn’t receive preferential treatment in the courts; condemned the Kurdistan Workers’ Party terrorist network and conveyed concerns over former Van Public Prosecutor Ferhat Sarikaya’s dismissal.

Furthermore, the report asked Turkey to lower the 10 percent electoral threshold, recognize the Alevis as a religious minority and to open Turkish ports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

The annual Cyprus Wine Festival, which was organised by Greek Cypriot weekly newspaper Parikiaki, kicked off at Alexandra Palace, North London on Saturday the 24th and Sunday the 25th of June 2006. With fine summer weather a large turnout of people mostly Greek and Turkish Cypriots and their families attended the festival. Many non-Cypriot locals also gathered at the palace to sample Shish Kebab, which they washed down with Cypriot wine or KEO beer. Visitors were also treated to tasty Cypriot delights such as homemade Şamişi, Pilavuna, sticky Lokma and Pastellagi.

As well as promoting Cypriot wines, the festival consisted of a Business Fair, where visitors could talk to property agents selling holiday homes in Southern Cyprus, CYTA telephone services, and catering equipment firms. The Greek Cyprus Tourism Board, AKEL, the Greek Cypriot Community of Enfield and the Metropolitan Police were also present at the fair offering information about their services. All aspects of Cypriaphilia were on sale, including books on Cyprus, miniature flags and souvenirs.

Towards the end of Saturday, AKEL General Secretary and President of the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives, Dimitri Christofias surprised guests with a brief visit. In his speech, Christofias reminded guests of the importance of a Cyprus solution and praised Parikiaki for organising the festival. Later Greek Cypriot singer Glykeria sung for the crowds, while the Greek Cypriot lobby for Cyprus invited guests to attend their march in July.

Magda Antoniou from Highgate told Toplum Postası: “Next year I would like to see Turkish Cypriots participating in the wine festival, it would not be a real Cypriot festival unless they participate as well.”

Antonis from Palmer Green who attended the festival with his family told Toplum Postası: “Overall it’s been a great day for everyone, I hope in the future we will get more Turkish Cypriot and Maronite input, the organisers should be thinking seriously about including all Cypriots here.”

I think we should go "Back to the Future" on Cyprus !

The basis of the negotiations is within the framework of the Makarios Denktash agreement, which all sides have based all subsequent negotiations. This agreement was produced under circumstances of "duress" in the extreme, and any thinking "outside the box" must question whether adhering still to this agreement, rather than seeking a different basis for a solution might not be more appropriate now that it's 25+ years since that was made.

My own suggestion would be that there be a solution sought which though acknowledging division into two political entities existing in Cyprus (in partial recognition of the faits accompli) would not accept a bizonal solutin at all!

The population of Cyprus was one of "MIXED SETTLEMENT" of Greek and Turkish Cypriots .... ALL over the island.

My own "maximalist" position would therefore seek a solution which allows for such a mixed settlement pattern to re-establish itself in Cyprus ... but allow voting for two separate administrative sections (by ethnic vote if necessary, but not necessarily so) .. with a single international identity vested in the Government of Cyprus.

I do not therefore accept any of the principles behind the Annan Plan.

If the problem in Cyprus is to be solved, then international judgement on the matter should (for me) ... condemn those actions and policies which for 32 years have sought to achieve secession of one portion of the population into an artificially created geographical area. Until those actions are rejected and condemned -- by Cypriots who are of Turkish descent for a start ... and then the international community .. then there can NOT be a "just and fair" solution to the Cyprus problem..

THAT for me would be .. thinking outside the box ... in the search for a solution of the "Gordian Knot" that is the Cyprus problem.

By the way ... the best write-up I've found currently describing the Cyprus problem and the search for a solution ... has been written by Zenon Stavrinides co-founder of the Association for Cypriot, Greek and Turkish Affairs (ACGTA) and can be downloaded by clicking here