Cool reaction to Turkish peace plans

Date: 26/01/06

Greek Cypriot representatives have poured cold water on a Turkish plan to restart Cyprus's moribund peace process through a series of confidence-building measures.

Nicholas Emiliou, the Republic of Cyprus's ambassador to the EU, rejected the measures as a mixture of re-hashed proposals and Turkey's existing obligations to the EU.

On Tuesday (24 January) Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül announced Ankara's willingness to allow Greek Cypriot ships and planes to have access to Turkish ports to pave the way for a resumption of talks on the so-called Annan plan to reunify the island.

Gül also called on Turkish Cyprus to be allowed to participate in international sporting events and for the ban on direct flights and trade with Northern Cyprus to be lifted.

The resolution of the Cyprus problem is seen as critical to Turkey's ability to progress in EU membership talks.

In a statement on Wednesday (25 January) Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn welcomed the proposals and said they warranted "careful examination".

Emiliou accused Ankara of stalling on EU demands that it implement an EU customs agreement - and its additional protocol - opening Turkey's ports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

"It is just a ploy for Turkey to avert the pressure that they are under," said Emiliou, "the only way forward is for Turkey to honour its commitment made to the European Union regarding the additional protocol."

Emiliou also said that although the Annan plan was a comprehensive agreement it would have to be reworked in order to be acceptable to Greek Cypriots.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül had announced on 24 January 2006 that Ankara would be willing to allow Greek Cypriot ships and planes to have access to Turkish ports to pave the way for a resumption of talks on the so-called Annan plan to reunify the island. Article reports that Nicholas Emiliou, the Republic of Cyprus's Ambassador to the EU, rejected the measures as a mixture of re-hashed proposals and Turkey's existing obligations to the EU. The European Commission welcomed Turkey's announcement in a statement on 25 January 2006.