Access to Ports Conditional on Lifting Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Isolation

[brother]

This is the stance of Turkey about opening its ports.

http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&trh=20051006&hn=24999

[Xenos 2Fan]

At least it is being considered. I am impressed that Erdogan has not soften his stance on Cyprus after talks began for TR to enter EU as I feared he may.

[Birkibrisli]

Erdogan would be more credible if he showed more respect to the rights of Turkish Cypriots to self-determination.The world knows that the government of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is devoit of any political or economic power,everything being controlled by remote from Ankara.All this talk about sanctions is to divert attention fom the real issue,which is Turkey's obligations towards Cyprus according to the agreement she has just signed as part of accession talks with the EU.Have you considered why not one singleTurkish football team ever played a game on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus controlled territory since 1983?
Erdogan should lift some of Turkey's own sanctions on Turkish Cypriots before expecting the world to do so.Truth sometimes hurts,I am afraid,but it should not be swept under the carpet because of that.

[erolz]

[Bananiot]

Probably Birkibrisli is correct regarding the football business. Football is a high profile sport and a big business sport. Legally speaking it is against the law for a Turkish team to play in northern Cyprus and if it did and the event was reported to UEFA the Turkish team would get a hefty fine and exclusion from European events. Thus, Turkish teams probably do a CYA, rather than being sorry later.

On the subject as a whole, I have voiced my concerns recently and once again I would like to stress that this time round, things are different, for the worse, that is for those concerned about solution. While both sides fire their guns (political, thank god) the prospect of a solution is becoming more remote. If we do not sit down to do some serious talking very soon, the bird would have flown. Both sides seem to be quite contended with the situation as it is now and this is one sure thing: It consolidates partition.

Anastasiades had dinner with Talat last night in Kyrenia. I listened to him this morning on the radio. He said that both leaders agreed that the Turkish Cypriot's, for several reasons, are fast losing their appetite for solution. The same is more than true for the Greek Cypriots. The momentum of 2002-2004 has been lost. Instead of trying hard to salvage something, if we move on to consolidate our respective positions and care only for the surface (point winning), then, very soon, we can bid farewell to solution.

Since people are not naive, we could say with certainty that this has been the target of a number of politicians in the north and in the south. I will not repeat my views here. I think you know them by now and you know whom I consider as the architect of the stalemate and the fast coming partition.

Erdogan and the majority of Turkish Cypriot's probably think that partition is better than a solution which will not be based on the A. Plan. Papadopoulos and many Greek Cypriot's (not sure if they constitute the majority at this moment of time) probably think that partition is better than the A. Plan as it is or with minimal changes. The Turkish Cypriot community has realised over the last year that it can go alone and still become prosperous (probably quite right) without the constrains of EU regulations while the Greek Cypriot community is quite happy to be the sole boss in our half without the dangers of shuffling the pack.

I better stop here. It is getting very depressing ...

[boulio]

Erdogans statements are for internal consumption,one of the things that did come out in the ascension agreement was that turkey must open ports and airspace by 2006 and it will be reviewed by the EU.Many in turkey believe that the ports were closed in 1974 after the invasion,however the were opened till 1987(formation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus)and de jure opened till 1998 when turkey i believe made it official legislation.

[Birkibrisli]

[brother]

Hi bulio and welcome to the forum

Glad you found your way here.