Turkish Cypriots seek EU salvation

For the dwindling Turkish Cypriot population of Cyprus membership of the European Union is not just a matter of tariffs and quotas - it is crucial to their continued existence on the island.

After 27 years of economic and political isolation, Turkish Cypriots are voting with their feet and leaving the island of their birth in large numbers.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (the area of land occupied by the Turkish army since 1974) is recognised only by the Ankara government.

As a result it has no export revenues and its economy is financed entirely by annual injections of cash from Turkey.

Since 1974 Turkish Cypriots have seen their Greek Cypriot compatriots prosper, with the south of the island enjoying a tourist boom while their own economic potential has remained largely undeveloped.

The recent banking crisis in Turkey and the devaluation of the Turkish lira has widened the gap between the two communities.

Some analysts estimate that per capita income in the south is as much as seven times greater than in the north.

Brussels has made it plain that the Republic of Cyprus will be entitled to join Europe without the north if the island is not reunited by 2004.

As the republic continues its steady progress towards EU accession, there is growing frustration within the Turkish Cypriot business community that EU harmonisation in the south is merely deepening the economic divide between the two communities.

This in turn, say businessmen, would hinder the implementation of a settlement to the island's longstanding partition.

"The development of the Turkish Cypriot economy prior to a settlement and EU membership is an important and necessary step," says Ekrem Ergil, of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry.

"The inhuman and acrimonious embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people should immediately be lifted."

Diplomats have long argued that the prospect of the southern part of the island joining Europe by 2004 would act as a catalyst in the search for a solution.

The EU has earmarked more than 200 million euros for the development of northern Cyprus - once the island's partition has ended.

Ambassador Donato Chiarini, head of the European Commission in Cyprus, is optimistic about bringing the economies of the two communities into step.

"Timing is of the essence," he says, " but technically speaking, given the size of northern Cyprus and our experience in the south, it would not be difficult to make a quick harmonisation between north and south."

This sense of urgency is echoed by Ali Erel, of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce - one of the few institutions in northern Cyprus to be recognised internationally.

He says a solution needs to be found by the end of this year, "otherwise we will be looking at the continued division of the island for a very long period of time - maybe 10 or 20 years."

But it is not just the standard of living that concerns the Turkish Cypriot community.

When journalist Hasan Kahvecioglu was invited to address a conference in Mexico City, he first had to apply to the Turkish embassy in Northern Cyprus for a Turkish passport, and then spend a week in Ankara while his visa was processed.

"I am 50 years old, and since 1974 I have had no internationally-recognised passport," he says.

"I can't take part in international events or be a member of international organisations. I want to be a citizen of the world."

When travelling around Northern Cyprus and meeting Turkish Cypriots, the overriding impression is of a tiny and isolated community desperate to be reconnected with the rest of the world.

According to public opinion polls, 90% of Turkish Cypriots want to be a part of Europe.

But until that happens there is little to encourage the younger generation of Turkish Cypriots to stay.

Economically underdeveloped, unrecognised by the rest of the world, northern Cyprus has little to offer its brightest and best.

"My son is at university in England," said Canan Azgin, "Why should he come back here? There's nothing for him."

EU membership, the vast majority of Turkish Cypriots believe, is the only way to open up new opportunities and stop emigration.

The mainland Turks see the Turkish Cypriots as "second class Turks". Turkey will never allow these "second class Turks" to join Europe, since themselves are not "good enough" to enter EU. Is is a matter of pride for Turkey. The Turkish Cypriots will have to suffer under corrupt regime of the Turkish generals for many more years, unfortunately!

90% of Turkish Cypriots want to be a part of Europe/E.U.??? Of course they do. I would bet the southern part would vote that way too. I would also bet that most of Turkey itself would. What I question is... Why do some countries that control people that want independance from them not included in the "not able to join the E.U." club. For example: France and Spain and the Basque peoples that want independance. Did the Germans in Alsace and Lorraine have a choice? Austria has been trying for decades to get the "German" part of Tyrol that should NEVER have been a part of Italy. I know most of you know how many differant peoples in Europe have had thier rights walked on by one E.U. member or another, and nobody used that as a pre-requisite for E.U. membership. So I guess you have to be Turkish in order to get this special attention???

Being "part of EU and independent" is an oxymoron. You cannot have your cake and eat it too! When ethnic passion or religious fundamentalism overrides reason and reality, you have unrest and chaos; the days of the tower of Babel are back, and you end up with ruins.

Come again now, because I missed your point.

My point was that Europe puts conditions on Turkey that they don't put on others or even themselves. Maybe Turkey needs to look at some human rights issues, but I could look at Britain in the last thirty years or so and say they have a few N.Ireland issues to look at. Are they not controlling part of an island to protect Protestants? Haven't they also been found guilty of torture to obtain information? My point is that I see a little bit of a "double-standard" in dealing with the Turks. They are not only a good friend of the U.S. and Israel, they are more European in nature than they are Mideast. I would just hate to see new problems start in this area of the world. This nation is a perfect example to the other Muslem nations why control of extremist-Muslems are a good thing. I don't want to show them that thier is no reward for working with the west.

I agree that they all have dirty laundry in their closets. I also say that it is not right for Turkey to ocuppy the island of Cyprus or to decide if the Greek Cypriots can join the EU or not. Read this post

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