Search: [ Go ]
Friday, November 21, 2008
  • Homepage
  • International
  • Politics
  • Security
  • Business
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
Cyprus protests over Gul visit to north
By AFP
Published: September 19, 2007
TOOLBAR
Print Story
Add Comments
Cyprus issued a strong protest Wednesday over Turkish President Abdullah Gul's "illegal" visit to the Turkish-occupied north, and his comments about a religious divide on the island.

Foreign minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis told state radio that Cyprus would make "strong representations" to the United Nations and the European Union over the visit and Gul's "provocative" statements.

She said the issue would be the focus of contacts that Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has in New York, while attending the UN General Assembly.

Nicosia is upset over Gul's suggestion that the Cyprus problem is one of religious difference - between Muslim Turkish Cypriots and Christian Orthodox Greek Cypriots - and two separate peoples.

"Those who thought that his election as Turkey's president would bring a change in Turkish policy were deluding themselves," Kozakou-Marcoullis said.

"Discrimination between sex and race cannot be supported in a European environment, and violates the principles held by the European Union."

She also argued that talk of a two-state solution for Cyprus - which has been divided for 33 years - was unhelpful at a time when the United Nations is trying to revive stalled peace talks between the rival communities.

Gul, who flew into northern Cyprus Tuesday for his first foreign visit since taking office last month, said Ankara would back UN efforts for peace, but underlined that a settlement must be based on the existence of two states.

"The reality on the island is that there are two states, two democracies, two languages, and two religions. It is difficult to find a settlement without taking these into account," Gul said.

Britain's High Commissioner in Cyprus Peter Millett also responded to Gul's comments Wednesday, saying: "For us, the Cyprus issue is a political one, and we don't want it to become one of religious differences."

Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat held rare face-to-face talks September 5, in a bid to jump-start the stalled peace process, but the meeting was regarded as a failure.

Cyprus remains a major stumbling block for Turkey's own EU membership bid, with Ankara accusing the Greek Cypriots of using their membership as a leverage to extract concessions on the island.

Turkey occupied the northern third of Cyprus in 1974, in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia, aimed at uniting the island with Greece. It still maintains about 40,000 troops in the north.



© 2007 Agence France-Presse

To add a comment,
Please log in:

E-mail:
Password:
 remember me
[ Login ]

Forgot your password?

Don't have an account?

Register now to comment on stories and stay up to date on important events and issues in the Middle East with our newsletter.
[ Register Now ]

Advertisement:
MOST POPULAR
  • Israel Bans International Media from Gaza, Arrests Human Rights Activists
  • Analysis: Chevron Nigeria shuts down
  • The Financial Crisis Seen Through a Global Lens
  • World Scrambles for Solutions to Somalia Piracy
  • Israel Should Know Better
  • Time for Strong-Arm Tactics in Fighting Piracy
Advertisement:
Contribute to the Middle East Times | Classifieds | My METimes | Advertise | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Copyright © 2008 News World Communications Inc.