BY TULIN DALOGLU
STAR- The EU Commission has already announced its decision including suggestions concerning the financial aid for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and direct trade. It sounded good, but there’s no performance. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched an initiative so the embargo on Turkish Cypriots can be lifted and Europeans keep their promises. Its reason is clear, that is, there is a timetable and time is running fast. The Cyprus issue is still a huge obstacle before officially starting negotiations with the EU. The EU says we should recognize the Greek Cypriot administration in order to become an EU member. So, the Cyprus issue is still a condition for us. When people criticized Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos for not hindering Turkey during last month’s EU summit, he said, ‘Don’t be afraid. We still have the right of veto for 64 times to block Turkey’s EU membership.’ In addition, a Greek Cypriot diplomat said to me in Washington, ‘Turkey is making the Cyprus issue an obstacle for itself. If it recognizes us when it extends its Customs Union agreement, this problem could be solved.’ It seems easy but actually it isn’t. There’s no problem with extending the Customs Union, but Greek Cypriots’ wishes won’t come true. There will be neither a show, nor de facto.
TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said, ‘If the aim is to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, Greek Cypriots should show a performance.’ We should see the end of the economic embargo on Turkish Cypriots. Turkey and Turkish Cypriots proved their good will with last April’s referendum. We should also see Greek Cypriots’ good will but the Greek Cypriot diplomat said, ‘There won’t be direct flights to Ercan Airport.’ It seems Greek Cypriots will insist on this issue because a plane’s landing on Ercan Airport means recognizing the TRNC indirectly. The situation is the same for ports as well. However, Greek Cypriots previously rejected to take one fourth of the TRNC territory. If they didn’t find it sufficient, they would want it all. If we are talking about an EU willing to see an enlarging family, now it’s time for the EU to protect Turkish Cypriots.