On November 11, 2002 the United
Nations Secretary General, supported by the United States
and Great Britain put forward a framework solution (Annan
Plan) to re-unify Cyprus. This framework was later (December
2002) modified and handed to the representatives of the two
Cypriot Communities for consideration.
The Annan plan aims to set forth
a solution following a so-called “middle road”
between the positions of G/Cypriot side (victims of the ongoing
occupation) and those of Mr. Denktash (who represents the
policies of the political-military circles of Ankara, the
perpetrators of the 29 year old invasion and occupation of
Cyprus). The plan at large does not take into account relevant
UN Cyprus resolutions, internationally recognised principles
and laws, EU principles and Aqui Communitaire.
The Annan Plan has attempted to minimize
the status of the Republic of Cyprus, which enjoys international
recognition as the sole legal authority over the whole of
Cyprus, by failing to take into consideration that the conflict
is itself fuelled by the illegal occupation by Turkish
forces of a substantial portion of Cyprus.
We express our very strong reservations
about the functionality of this plan, but more importantly,
we declare that the rationale upon which it is based violates
the very resolutions that the UN has passed since
1974, as well as a number of international conventions.
Consequently, we demand that this plan be
reworked and changed in compliance with the UN Charter, the
Geneva Convention and UN resolutions on Cyprus, as well
as the High Level agreements between the two Cyprus Communities
and the principles of the EU. This will lead to a re-unified
Cyprus with a truly Federal structure that will guarantee
one international legal personality, one indivisible sovereignty
and one sole nationality, which should be the legal continuation
of the only internationally recognised authority “The Republic
of Cyprus”. Such a solution should guarantee the withdrawal
of the occupation forces and the illegal settlers, the respect
of Human Rights and basic freedoms for all the legal citizens
of Cyprus and in particular, should guarantee exercise of the rights
to property, movement and settlement.
Cyprus accession to the EU, in contrast,
in accordance with the decision of the EU Copenhagen summit offers an alternative
opportunity for Greek and Turkish Cypriots through a re-unified
Cyprus as prescribed above, to enjoy the same rights, freedoms
and opportunities as other citizens of Europe.
This new political and economic reality
has been recognised by the unprecedented uprising of the genuine
T/Cypriots who have rallied in thousands demanding the resignation
of the intransigent Denktash regime, the re-unification of
the island and the finding of a truly Federal solution that will
allow to Turkish-Cypriots to engage the EU in
partnership with Greek-Cypriots.
WE appeal to the T/Cypriots to continue
their struggle in forging an alternative partnership based
on EU laws and the UN Cyprus resolutions, instead of imperiling
their EU aspirations by acquiescing to the demands of Mr.
Denktash.
We equally demand that the EU take into
consideration its own founding principles and laws prior to
entering into any accession talks with the regime in Ankara.
Any future consideration of Turkey must be underlined by true
democracy, freedom of speech and expression, respect of the
rights of ethnic & religious minorities, adoption of fiscal responsibility
and transparency, and civilian control of the military
in Turkey. We agree with the assertion of the new Turkish Foreign
Minister that the continuation of intransigent policies over
Cyprus is making Turkey an occupying force on EU territory.
And as such this occupation must be terminated, while unequivocal respect
sould be accorded to
the UN resolutions on Cyprus and to EU principles, rules and
decisions leading to a solution this long-lasting problem.
Finally, we encourage
the government of the United States of America to refrain
from granding further financial and military assistance to the regime
in Ankara, as well as any political/diplomatic assistance
to Turkey in its demands to accede to the EU until it is in
full compliance with EU laws and democratic principles identical
to those that American citizens enjoy, and until it complies
with the EU Helsinki summit principles
requiring an end to the occupation together with a just, viable, workable,
and long-lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.
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