We must avoid, at all costs, a repeat of the disastrous circumstances that ensued in the wake of the Annan Plan, after the failure of which the EU allowed a divided Cyprus to become a full member, this despite the fact that the so-called ‘Republic of Cyprus’ only represents the Greek Cypriots, and despite the fact that it was the Greek Cypriot side that destroyed the 1960 partnership constitution and committed serious crimes against Turkish Cypriots. The failure of the EU to recognise the injustices endured by the Turkish Cypriot People, as well as its failure to realise the promises made after the Annan Plan, have made it clear that the human rights of the Turkish Cypriot People are being evaded and violated on a sad track of discrimination by diplomacy.
The then UN Secretary-General H.E. Kofi Annan expressed his views regarding the results of the referendum in his report to the Security Council dated 28 May 2004 (S/2004/437) in the following advisory:
“The Turkish Cypriot vote has undone any rationale for pressuring and isolating them. I would hope that the members of the Council can give a strong lead to all states to cooperate both bilaterally and in international bodies, to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and impeding their development”.
The European Council of Foreign Ministers in its decision of 26 April 2004 expressed its determination:
“…to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.”
This was followed by The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Resolution 1376 (2004) stating:
“The international community, in particular, the Council of Europe and the European Union, cannot ignore or betray the expressed desire of the majority of Turkish Cypriots for greater openness and should take rapid and appropriate steps to encourage it. The Turkish Cypriots’ international isolation must cease”.
On 26 April 2004, The EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunther Verheugen, stated that: “…now we have to end the isolation of the North. The Commission is ready to take various measures for that aim.”
The fulfilment of the above promises is long overdue and we demand that in the event that the current negotiations under UN auspices do not conclude in a fair, just and realistic agreement by the end of January 2011, the UN and all international actors, not least the United Kingdom (UK), make the necessary provisions for a “Plan B”.
Apart from drawing a cease-fire line on a map in 1964 (also known as the Green Line), the UK, as a guarantor power, has not used any of its influence and power to protect the Turkish Cypriot People. It is simply not reasonable to expect the Turkish Cypriots to wait any longer, and immediate action should be taken by the UK to relieve the Turkish Cypriots from the unjust restrictions from which they suffer. To add insult to injury, Turkish Cypriots wishing to travel to the UK on a TRNC passport have to obtain a visa from the UK High Commission at a minimum cost of 88 Euros. This puts a price tag on ethnic Turkish and religious diversity, in a way not comparable to any other heritage community of the UK.
The UK must also give political and financial help to the Turkish Cypriots to raise their economy to the same level as the Greek Cypriots, as some recompense for the failure of the UK government over 47 years to discharge its obligations to the Turkish Cypriots as a guarantor of the 1960 settlement. This must be bilateral aid, because aid channelled through the EU or the UN has and will be blocked by Greek Cypriot nationalist and anti- Turkish/Muslim politics and policies.
The undersigned believe that the time has passed for endless negotiations. Time is of the essence and the limit is the end of January 2011, when an alternative Plan B must be tabled as a viable option.
We stress the need for political, economic and social parity and a level playing field for peace and stability to be achieved on the island of Cyprus. Both the European Union and the International Community must work to secure this. Despite the fact that the two sides in Cyprus are recognised as political equals, the EU and others have failed to deliver on their promises, that the unjustified restrictions on Turkish North Cyprus be lifted.
As a reminder, we would like to point out that on 10th December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 2 of this Declaration reads as follows:
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty”.
For a long time, ‘Plan B’ has been staring at the face of the world as the only viable option. It is now time for Plan B. It is now time for Article 2 to be adopted for Turkish Cypriots and the TRNC.
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