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Learning to Share: A Review of the 19 July 2006 session of the Association for Cypriot, Greek and Turkish Affairs

On Wednesday 19th July, Baroness Ludford MEP chaired a lively and thought provoking session of the Association for Cypriot, Greek & Turkish Affairs. The talk entitled, "Current Turkish Cypriot Political Attitudes and Interim Aims For North Cyprus" was given by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) London representative Yonca Senyigit, and was well attended by Greek and Turkish Cypriots, as well as other guests including historian Professor Clement Dodd and an observer from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Cyprus Desk.

Ms. Senyigit’s speech began with underlining the importance of ending the isolation of Turkish Cypriots to help improve their economy through the creation of essential new jobs. She sought to allay Greek Cypriot fears that such a move would lead to the recognition of the TRNC or hamper attempts for a political solution by underlining the fact that Turkish Cypriots had clearly demonstrated they wanted peace and reunification of the island by voting in favour of the Annan Plan in the 2004 referenda. For these reasons, she argued, such fears were unfounded and unjustified given.

The TRNC Representative pressed that in the present political climate there was no justification for the ongoing isolation of Turkish Cypriots, yet such problems were continuing to negatively impact not only on the quality of life of Turkish Cypriots, but undermine contacts between the two sides. She gave a variety of examples to illuminate this, deliberately avoiding direct or oblique references to the events of the past. Ms. Senyigit explained how she had been harassed at the checkpoints by Greek Cypriot police twice since she joined the TRNC office, and is now turning down invitations to go to meetings in the South. So much for confidence building measures!

During the Open Forum session, a variety of questions were put to Ms Senyigit, which then also sparked an open debate between members of the audience. Embargoed! member Dr. Fusun Nadiri stated she could not accept Greek Cypriot excuses that ending the embargoes would lead to the recognition of TRNC and referred to a recent sad recent episode of a group of Turkish Cypriot children banned from attending a folklore dancing event in Spain due to Greek Cypriot objections that acknowledging the children’s home nation was tantamount to recognising North Cyprus. She asked how this objection and depriving children from participating in cultural events can be seen as “acceptable”?

Dr. Nadiri also went on to state that in her mind, the real aspiration for Greek Cypriots was not unification, partition or recognition of the TRNC but to force Turkish Cypriots to accept minority rights. The Greek Cypriots present were unable to rebut this point, while Ms Senyigit backed up Dr. Nadir’s claim by highlighting Greek Cypriot President Papadopoulos’ recent declaration to a French magazine that he intended to resolve the Cyprus conflict by 'osmosis'.

The comments led to a wider audience debate on the lack of Greek Cypriot goodwill to share power, which Turkish Cypriots stated went to the root causes of the problem and dated back to the tragic events and inter-communal violence of 1963-1974. In reply, Greek Cypriots raised their concerns about the Turkish army's presence in Cyprus and the lack of trust they felt towards a settlement which did not include a rapid and drastic reduction troop numbers.

During the session, Baroness Ludford reminded the meeting that she keeps it no secret that she is a supporter of ending North Cyprus’ international isolation. She stated it was time the European Union fulfilled its pledge made to Turkish Cypriots in 2004 and removed all embargoes against them.

The final comment went to Turkish Cypriot and active Embargoed! member Hassan Korusoy, who stated that as a member of the smaller nation in Cyprus, he and other Turkish Cypriots feel frightened of the majority, and that it is up to the majority to make the minority feel safe. He stressed that when the confidence building measures are effective and after a solution to the Cyprus problem is agreed, the troops can be reduced, but his parting comment after a two hour deeply engaging political session was the most telling of all, “A solution to the Cyprus problem is very simple if the Greek Cypriots 'learn to share'”.
-Ends-

Photograph is of Dr. Fusun Nadiri and Hassan Korusoy at Embargoed! North London open evening in November 2005



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