Preparing roadmap to a solution
The Turkish Cypriot Businessman’s Association (ISAD) has made a number of radical proposals as part of a “roadmap for a solution to the Cyprus Problem”, including allowing some Greek Cypriots to return to their properties and the de facto handover of control to the Turkish Cypriot civil authorities.
In a letter to addressed to Turkish Cypriots, the EU and the international community, ISAD said that the association has been evaluating policies necessary for a solution and is now moving to the next stage, which will be to cooperate and elaborate on these ideas with other Turkish Cypriot NGOs (non-governmental organisations).
“We aim to draw up and follow a road map, which will lead the Cypriots to a mutually acceptable solution of the Cyprus Problem,” ISAD said in a statement.
Perilous stalemate
Noting a “perilous stalemate” and a range of factors that increase the risk of permanent division, ISAD says this would mean “ both sides in Cyprus are doomed to lose and Turkey will probably be faced with the suspension of her accession negotiations with the EU.”
It criticises the approach that says Turkish Cypriots have done there part, so it is now up to Greek Cypriots and interested parties to make a move.
It therefore makes a number of proposals to improve understanding and minimise the anxieties of the Greek Cypriots which should also be compatible with international law and acceptable among all the parites involved.
Align with the acquis
*Turkish Cypriot ports and customs should be aligned with the Acquis Communautaire. To ensure that the goods entering the customs area from the ports in the north are compatible with the EU arrangements, a way should be found until a comprehensive settlement to run the northern ports under the supervision or inspection of the European Commission.
*The financial aid regulation should be decoupled from the direct trade regulation and implemented as soon as possible (a suggestion which some say cost Ali Erel his job as President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce).
Instead of the Direct Trade Regulation, a way should be found to integrate the northern part of Cyprus within the “Free Trade” relations of the EU, Turkey and the south.
*The EUR 259 mlns should be used for the harmonisation of Turkish Cypriot legislation and standards with the Acquis, development and restructuring of infrastructure and for the promotion of the economic development of Turkish Cypriots.
*Acknowledging and conserving the rights of Turkish Cypriots under the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, including putting forward arguments at International Law Courts, stating that the prevailing State of Affairs in Cyprus is contradictory to its 1960 Constitution.
“Getting these rights back will nullify the push strategy of the Greek Cypriot leadership, which aims to force the Turkish Cypriots to an unbalanced solution, by threatening to use their right to veto against Turkish accession,” says ISAD. It adds that this is not meant to mean a desire to return to the conditions of the 1960s but “it’s a tool to prove the Greek Cypriot politicians that a federal solution reached under UN umbrella, based on political equality is the best alternative.”
Let Greek Cypriots settle in their property
The most radical recommendations made by ISAD relate to property, in the context of its recommendation that the Turkish Cypriot authorities should start implementing those sections of the Annan Plan on land and property which are unilaterally applicable.
This includes preparations to implement as far as possible the Article 3 of the Annan Plan concerning the Citizenship and Residence Rights.
It also calls for the implementation of the Article 9 regarding the land and property to be reinstated to its original inhabitants/owners.
Greek Cypriot inhabitants of the settlements around the Green Line that would be given back in the UN plan should be invited to resettle in their property, ISAD recommends.
Greek Cypriot inhabitants of Varosha should be to be invited to resettle in their property and in parallel to the financial contributions of the UN, the EU and the international donors, rehabilitation plans for other settlements should be made.
Legal preparations should be made for the land to be given back to the Greek Cypriots, as stated in the Annan Plan.
ISAD adds that all operations should be within human rights and international law.
Give de facto control to Turkish Cypriots
As a means of reducing the anxieties of Greek Cypriots, ISAD recommends that “the effective and de facto control of the authority in north Cyprus should be transferred to the Turkish Cypriot authorities”.
Steps should be taken in line with democratisation and transfer of powers to civil authorities.
“Without giving away the basic communal rights of the Turkish Cypriots, to get two “YES” s in a second round of referenda, it is imperative that the Greek Cypriots’ anxieties be understood and minimised and a general satisfaction be created”, it says.
It concludes by calling “upon the Turkish Cypriot Civil Organisations, to the parties that are linked to the Cyprus problem; The United Nations, The European Union, The International Community and especially the Secretary General of the UN, His Excellency Kofi Annan, to start taking steps and contribute for an urgent solution of the Cyprus Problem.”
