
Sunday, July 06, 2008

Cyprus Problem in 2003

LEFKOSA - Cyprus had experienced busy and historic days after November 11, 2002 with presentation of Annan plan.

Cyprus talks were affected as Tassos Papadopoulos won Presidency elections held on February 16 in Greek Cypriot side.

Attitude of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in opening gates to Greek Cypriot side on April 23 and December 14 TRNC elections constituted an agenda item of Cyprus in 2003.

TRNC and Greek Cypriot side, which passed recent months of 2002 intensely with discussions on Annan plan, experienced developments in 2003 regarding Annan Plan.

Denktas and Clerides, who started direct talks on January 16, 2002, convened for the 8th time in January 2003.
Clerides stated on January 24 that Annan Plan took sovereignty of (Cyprus Republic) under guarantee. And on January 26, he expressed his concerns that the ''danger'' of recognition of TRNC would appear in case results could not be taken from negotiations. Turkish side presented its request for changes on Annan Plan to Greek Cypriot side on January 27 and to the U.N. on January 28.

TRNC President Denktas said on January 29 that they were ready to present a new map, but firstly sovereignty of the Turkish side should be recognized. Denktas said they would sign the document on February 28 in case the amendments they wanted on the plan were accepted.
Greek Cypriot side said it rejected proposal of TRNC for changes during face to face talks on January 31.

Following Denktas-Clerides meeting held on February 5, Denktas said the meeting was tough and called the Parliament for an extraordinary meeting on February 6.
Greek Cypriot side stated on the same day that it would sign Annan plan as it was in case an agreement could not be reached till February 28.

Denktas responded to this statement of Greek Cypriot side on February 6 and said Clerides bluffed to put him into a difficult situation.

Denktas and Clerides had their last meeting on February 14, 2003. Clerides and Denktas met for 71 times in Cyprus within face to face talks that started on January 16, 2002.

Meanwhile, elections was held in Greek Cypriot side on February 16 and Tassos Papadopoulos won the elections at the first round. Denktas said regarding the results of elections that Papadopoulos had more contribution to division of Cyprus than Clerides.

ANNAN IN CYPRUS

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan came to Cyprus on February 26 to present third shape of revised plan. He met with Papadopoulos and Denktas the same day and presented the new plan to the sides. Denktas said nothing changed in the plan in general sense.

Annan met with Denktas, Clerides and Papadopoulos on February 27 in the buffer zone. Annan wanted the leaders to give a reply within 10 days and invited them to The Hague on March 10.

U.S. State Department Cyprus Special Coordinator Thomas Weston also attended the ''Solution and We are Ready for EU'' demonstration held in Lefkosa Inonu Square on February 27.

Annan met with Denktas and Papadopoulos again on February 28 and said ''this is the end of the way'' while departing from the island. Denktas said, ''this will be the end of the talks, not the way.''

While presenting the new plan to leaders, Annan called for a commitment to resort the plan to referendum whether or not an agreement would be reached on the plan. TRNC President Denktas, who made a statement on March 1, stated that, ''there is not a joint text to be resorted to referendum''.

President Denktas, Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas left for Ankara on March 5 to hold meetings.

''Sovereignty and Existence Demonstration'' took place in Lefkosa on March 7. Denktas, who attended the demonstration, wanted the citizens to continue fighting for survival of TRNC.

MARCH 10 THE HAGUE SUMMIT

Republican Parliament Chairmanship Council convened on March 7 to take a decision to present Annan Plan to referendum. Denktas wanted the Parliament not to issue a decision about referendum. No decision was issued. A demonstration was held in front of the Parliament.

No result could be obtained from the meeting of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Denktas and Papadopoulos held in The Hague on March 10 and lasted on March 11. Greek Cypriot media resembled what was experienced in The Hague to ''a horror film at midnight''.

Papadopoulos, on March 13, rejected call of the Turkish side for face to face talks.

TRNC President Denktas, who made a statement on March 24, ''Annan Plan does not have meaning even if it is on the negotiation table in case our sine qua nons are not accepted.''

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS OF DENKTAS IN APRIL

Denktas said on March 31 that Turkish side had some preparations and gave the signs of historical developments to happen in April.

Greek Cypriot side rejected Turkey's suggestion for holding a conference in Cyprus on March 31.

Denktas presented Greek Cypriot side on April 2 a confidence building measures package. The package envisioned lifting of embargoes imposed on both sides in Cyprus mutually, giving Maras to Greek Cypriot side to open it to settlement, Turkish side's lifting the measures taken as of July 2000 regarding the existence of the U.N. peace keeping force (UNFICYP) and establishment of a Consensus Committee to develop mutual respect, tolerance and understanding. According to proposal, acceptance of the package or its putting into practice would not harm the positions of both sides and not replace a final agreement. Denktas also sent a letter to Papadopoulos asking for a negotiation.

Papadopoulos rejected the proposal of Denktas on April 3 and said that he could meet with Denktas only within the scope of the United Nations. Denktas repeated his call for meeting with a second letter on April 4 and said that his proposals were still on table.

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul visited TRNC on April 5 and said that he supported TRNC's proposals to Greek Cypriot side that was presented on April 2.

U.N. Security Council approved Cyprus report of Annan on April 14. The report kept Turkish Cypriot side responsible for failure in the direct talks process and TRNC reacted against the report.

EU MEMBER GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION

Greek Cypriot side signed convention on accession to the European Union (EU) during EU Athens Summit on April 16.
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis visited Greek Cypriot side on April 18 and said regarding Greek Cypriot side's signing EU accession convention that they achieved ''Enosis'' (union with Greece). Simitis met with some officials of opposition parties in TRNC at Greek Embassy in Greek Cypriot side on April 19.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Council of Ministers held an extraordinary meeting on April 24 and took a historical decision on making passages between TRNC and Greek Cypriot side free. Greek Cypriot National Council convened on April 22 and stated that it did not recognize the decision on free passages of TRNC, but that it would not prevent the passages.

The decision of TRNC Council of Ministers was published in Official Gazette on April 22 and free passages between TRNC and Greek Cypriot side started under some certain rules on April 23.

On the contrary to the expectations, Greek Cypriots crowded in front of the border gates, instead of Turkish Cypriots. The number of Greek Cypriots who proceeded to TRNC reached 30 thousand in the first two weeks.

TRNC Council of Ministers decided to allow accommodation of Greek Cypriots at hotels in TRNC for three days on April 29.

Greek Cypriot officials were uneasy with Greek Cypriots' intensive passages to TRNC and their accommodation at TRNC hotels. Greek Cypriot deputies presented a draft law envisaging two years of imprisonment and fine punishment to Greek Cypriots who stayed at hotels that were formerly owned by Greek Cypriots in TRNC.

TRNC Council of Ministers took a series of decisions before the visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to TRNC on May 9. In accordance with the decisions, some restrictions that TRNC had been putting on U.N. Peace Keeping Force since July 2000 were lifted. It was envisioned to give scholarship to Greek Cypriot students in TRNC universities, but the number would be determined later. Telecommunication Directorate was given the authority to launch initiative to establish communication with Greek Cypriot side. It was stated that GSM companies in TRNC would be encouraged for making ''roaming'' agreements with Greek Cypriot side. It was decided to carry on activities to develop trade between two sides.

ERDOGAN IN BUFFER ZONE (GREEN LINE)

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Ledra Palace Border Gate in his visit to TRNC on May 9. He proceeded till buffer zone (green line) and talked with some Greek Cypriots who were waiting for entrance to TRNC.

Greek Cypriot administration announced its ''measures'' against Turkish Cypriots on April 30 and presented them to European Union (EU) Commission on June 3 as well. TRNC described EU package as ''the package which have Greek Cypriot patent''.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen visited Greek Cypriot side and TRNC on June 17 and 18 and said that Greek Cypriot side would enter EU in May 2004 without taking political problem into consideration.
Turkey decided to pay compensation to Greek Cypriot Titina Louzidou in June and paid it on December 2.

OPENINGS OF TRNC

Barter and Compensation Law, which TRNC had prepared with the support of Turkey and European Commission to solve property problem by the method of compensation and barter, went into effect on July 1. Greek Cypriot administration tried to prevent its citizens' applications to the commission.

Denktas sent a letter to Annan on July 11 and suggested opening of Lefkosa International Airport and closed Maras region to common usage under the control of the United Nations. Papadopoulos rejected the suggestion of Denktas by describing it as ''tactic''.

Greek Cypriot Parliament approved on July 14 EU membership convention which was signed on April 16.
Denktas suggested clearing of mines from Lefkosa and surrounding region where free passages were made intensively on July 24.

Turkey-TRNC Partnership Council meeting was held in Girne and following the meeting, two countries signed Customs Union Agreement on August 8. TRNC formed an office which would deal with real properties of Turkish Cypriots that were left in Greek Cypriot side and the office started its activities on September 4.

The United States put pressure on sides for mutual cancellation of military exercises that were held annually in Cyprus and ''Toros'' and ''Nikiforos'' exercises were not held. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with officials of leftist political parties of TRNC in Ledra Palace on September 10 during his visit to Greek Cypriot side.

CONFESSIONS OF CLERIDES, PAPADOPOULOS AND DE SOTO

Former Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides told Greek Cypriot press on September 28 that they had information about Annan Plan before it was presented and added that they had interventions to the plan to make changes in favor of themselves.

Clerides also said that four Islamic countries had announced that they would recognize TRNC, but Greek Cypriot side and the United Nations prevented this. He confessed on November 30 that they applied the tactic of not accepting anything during the talks and putting the responsibility on Turkish Cypriot side and this tactic carried them to EU membership.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Cyprus Special Envoy Alvaro De Soto told Greek Cypriot press on October 12 that the United Nations was wrong about the attitude of Greek Cypriots on Annan Plan and they did not take into consideration Greek Cypriots' will for return.

Papadopoulos said on November 23 that he would not have signed Annan Plan even if Denktas had signed it during the meetings in The Hague on March 10 and 11.

PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN IN TRNC

Prime Minister Erdogan visited TRNC on November 15 to attend the celebration ceremonies of the 20th foundation anniversary of TRNC.

Erdogan said during his speech that the openings of Turkish Cypriot side should not be wasted and stressed that the solution in Cyprus could be provided with equality and acceptance of realities by everybody.

Erdogan also met with officials of political parties separately at Saray Hotel.

ELECTIONS

The United States, EU, the United Nations, Britain and Greek Cypriot side made various interventions in Parliamentary elections which were held in TRNC on December 14.

Seven parties joined the elections and four parties were elected. Republican Turkish Party (CTP) sent 19, National Unity Party (UBP) 18, Democrat Party (DP) 7 and Democracy Movement (BDH) 6 deputies to Parliament. Left wing parties sent 25 deputies and right wing parties also sent 25 deputies to Parliament after the elections and they concentrated on forming the government. UBP-DP government presented its resignation to Denktas on December 16.

TRNC President Rauf Denktas designated CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat to form a new government.

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