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[brother]

Greek Cypriot Administration Prepares to Lodge a Complaint about Turkey
By Foreign News Desk
Published: Tuesday, August 16, 2005
zaman.com

Greek Cypriot Transport Minister Haris Thrasou announced that he would make a complaint about Turkey to the European Union (EU) as Turkey has not opened its seaports to Greek Cypriot ships.

Speaking to Fileleftheros newspaper Thrasou reported that a ship named Hans Siol, flying the Iberian flag and registered in Southern Cyprus was not allowed to enter Dortyol seaport in Hatay, on the southeastern coast of Turkey. Siol maintained that Turkey would be forced to alter that conduct. Noting that Turkey did not allow Southern Cypriot ships and ships of companies that are registered in Southern Cyprus to enter its seaports, Thrasou said Hans Siol was not the first. “Turkey must change the conduct it has so far adopted and fully comply with the protocol following its signature. Perhaps the pending ratification in parliament is being indicated as an excuse; however, we will continue our efforts and I believe we will succeed in making Turkey fulfill its commitments with pressure from EU countries.”

Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot administration and Greece are reported to have decided to keep their cards closed until France and other EU countries clarify their stance on Turkey’s prospective EU membership. Fileleftheros indicated that since the association between Turkey’s recognition of Southern Cyprus and the opening of accession talks was a new development, it was being assessed at all levels. As no European government has determined a definite stance on the subject, Greece and Southern Cyprus appear not to have the intention to reveal their cards all at once and will determine their conduct after conducting research and consultations, the newspaper wrote. Greek Cypriot Administration leader Tasos Papadopoulos and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will reportedly analyze EU members’ and in particular France’s intentions during the meeting they will host on August 18 in Athens.

“Greek Cypriots will strive to nullify the declaration”

Simerini newspaper asserted that the Greek Cypriots would strive to make the declaration that Turkey had appended to the Supplementary Protocol, claiming that it did not recognize the Greek Cypriot Administration, nullified. According to Simerini’s report, Greek Cypriot bureaucrats think the EU should issue a counter-declaration proclaiming that the Turkish declaration has no legal validity and that Turkey must implement the protocol without the exception any one of the 25 EU countries. Simerini indicated that if the EU does not nullify the Turkish declaration, Turkey can confer it as legally valid and implement the protocol as such.

[erolz]

Political manouverings and shennaigans as usual.

As far as I am concerned the issues here are simple and plain.

Turkey had to sign the extension. It has done so. It has to implement it (allow Greek Cypriot registered ships to use ports etc). It has not yet done this but should do so as soon parliamentary ratification is done in Turkey.

Neither of the above is formal political recognition by Turkey of the Republic of Cyprus as it exists today as the sole legitimate government of all of cyprus and all cypriots. The EU should accept this stance as was agreed previously and Turkish EU entry negotiations should begin on time.

Any Turkish attempts to sign the extension but not implement are political shenanigans and I condem them.

Any Republic of Cyprus attempts to turn signing and implementing the extension into legal and formal recognition are also polititcal shenanigans and I condem them equally.

Thats how I see things.

[brother]

So the Greek Cypriot will strive to nullify the agreement to what end, so the talks don't start or to blackmail Turkey into accepting full recognition, i thought this was black and white and was agreed last december that Turkey only needs to sign not recognise.

[erolz]

brother wrote: i thought this was black and white and was agreed last december that Turkey only needs to sign not recognise.

They need to sign and implement but not recognise is how I see things.

As far as the Republic of Cyprus lobbies for implementation I support them. As far as they lobby for recognition and use non implementation to this end I do not.

[Crash Test Dummy]

as they say in football its 'handbags'. honestly just how many greek ships would stop in turkey?

[brother]

Research carried out recently estmated that there is potential for at least a billion pounds worth of trade to be had between the countries, so i would say a lot.

[Crash Test Dummy]

bro how come me and you are getting lines under our posts?

just because there was a billion pounds of possible trade does not mean to sday that either side would want to give the other trade.

[brother]

Not sure why we are getting the lines.

Thats right what you said hence Turkey's refusal to let Greek Cypriot ships dock unless Turkey gets a concession out of the Republic of Cyprus like opening the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ports she will not open hers.

Difficult times await us.

[cannedmoose]

Giorgio wrote: as they say in football its 'handbags'. honestly just how many greek ships would stop in turkey?

The vast majority of Cypriot-registered ships are not owned by Cypriots, therefore the potential of opening Turkish ports to this fleet is enormous, given the sizeable fleet operating under the Cyprus flag. Also, as Cyprus' closest neighbour, it would be natural for bilateral trade between the two to be significant, at least for Cyprus, particularly given Turkey's potential rate of development and industrial manufacturing potential... significant bilateral trade flows would be the natural order if politics did not mean otherwise.

Therefore, one of the boons to a Cyprus-registered fleet of being able to stop in Turkey would be the transport of Turkish goods around the world on Cypriot ships, thereby bringing sizeable wealth to Cyprus as a result.

[Crash Test Dummy]

is there where i concede defeat and agree i lost the discussion?

[Dhavlos]

its madness really, not only does turkey 'need'/could use cypriot investment/trade, but cyprus wouldnt do badly either....this may be the one time the greediness of the markets may do some good in the world!!