Turkish Cypriots set for new vote

[Talon]

Turkish Cypriots set for new vote

By Tabitha Morgan

BBC News, Nicosia

Turkish Cypriots will vote for a new parliament on Sunday. But they have little enthusiasm for the election.

This will be their third visit to the polling stations in just over a year, and in a few weeks they will have to vote yet again for a new president.

Most Turkish Cypriots want to see their island reunited and to join the European Union. The internationally unrecognised Turkish north of Cyprus remains isolated from the EU.

Sunday's election was called after the governing coalition of Mehmet Ali Talat collapsed last October when it could no longer maintain a parliamentary majority.

Opinion polls suggest that Mr Talat's pro-European Republican Turkish Party will be unlikely to win an outright majority and will once again be forced into a coalition with the much smaller Democrat Party of Serdar Denktash.

But Serdar Denktash - the son of veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash - has not ruled out the possibility of forming an alliance with Mr Talat's main rival, the eurosceptic National Unity Party, if it wins enough seats. "I will be the kingmaker again," he said.

European dream

Last April, after months of intense political activity and unprecedented public debate in northern Cyprus, 65% of Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of reunification in an island-wide referendum.

But because the vast majority of Greek Cypriots rejected the proposal Cyprus remains divided, with

Many Greek Cypriots felt the peace plan gave too many concessions to the Turkish side - not all Greek Cypriot refugees would get their homes back and Turkish troops would be allowed to stay on the island.

Despite this setback, at first Turkish Cypriots remained relatively optimistic that life would improve. Now, voters say that, for all the political fanfare and the promises of economic aid from Brussels, little has changed.

Turkish Cypriot GDP is around one-third that of the mainly Greek Cypriot south of the island.

This is largely because the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not recognised as a legitimate state by the rest of the world. Only Turkey will trade with northern Cyprus or use its ports and airports.

After the referendum, Brussels promised to lift many of the international embargoes against northern Cyprus and to introduce a mechanism for European trade.

The EU clearly sympathises with the plight of Turkish Cypriots who have been excluded from EU membership by circumstances outside their control, namely the Greek Cypriot vote against reunification.

Isolation continues

But so far Brussels has failed to deliver. It has been blocked in its attempts to do so by the government of the Republic of Cyprus, which was accepted as an EU member in May 2004.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos argues that if economic conditions in northern Cyprus improve significantly Turkish Cypriots will have no incentive to return to the negotiating table.

He hopes that in time he will be able to renegotiate a deal that would concede more to the island's Greek Cypriot community.

All this is a major problem for Mehmet Ali Talat, who came to power last year on the strength of his promises to end northern Cyprus' international isolation and bring its economy into Europe.

Many Turkish Cypriots who broadly supported this vision - like chocolate manufacturer Ahmet Cirakli - are now sceptical of promises from Brussels. "Twelve months have passed and we still can't sell any of our confectionery," Mr Cirakli says.

"Mr Talat is telling people sooner or later the European Union will change its mind, but I don't know how many more months we will be patient."

Although their patience may be wearing thin, voters like Mr Cirakli are still unlikely to vote for the eurosceptic National Unity Party, which they feel has failed to offer an alternative way forward.

More worrying for Mr Talat is the conviction - held by increasing numbers of Turkish Cypriots - that the election result will change nothing and that while President Papadopoulos remains in power in the south there is little prospect of an end to the island's division.

Many voters - unconvinced that the democratic process can actually change circumstances outside their control - could just decide to stay at home.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/worl...ope/4277671.stm

[Talon]

Turkish Cypriots go to the polls

Turkish Cypriots are voting for a new government, after the governing coalition of Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat collapsed last October.

The main contenders are Mr Talat's pro-European party and the Euro-sceptic nationalists of Dervis Eroglu.

Mr Talat supported a UN reunification plan for the divided island of Cyprus, which was opposed by Mr Eroglu and rejected by Greek-Cypriot voters.

Most Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of the plan in a referendum last April.

Alliances

Polling stations in the internationally unrecognised north of Cyprus opened at 0800 (0600GMT) and are to close at 1800 (1600GMT).

Unofficial results are expected 1830 (1630GMT).

Opinion polls favour Mr Talat's pro-European Republican Turkish Party.

However, they suggest the party is unlikely to win an outright majority, and will once again be forced into a coalition with the much smaller Democrat Party of Serdar Denktash.

But Serdar Denktash - the son of veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash - has not ruled out the possibility of forming an alliance with Mr Eroglu's eurosceptic National Unity Party, if it wins enough seats.

Most Turkish Cypriots want to see their island reunited and to join the European Union.

However, only the internationally recognised Greek south of the island was allowed to join the European Union.

In a few weeks, voters will return to the polls to elect a new president.

Cyprus has been split into the Greek-Cypriot controlled south and the Turkish-occupied north since Turkey invaded in 1974 in the wake of an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece.

The breakaway state in the north is only recognised by Turkey, which maintains 40,000 troops there.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/worl...ope/4281103.stm

[Talon]

N Cyprus PM claims election win

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat has claimed a win in northern Cyprus' parliamentary elections.

His Republican Turkish Party has 44%, against 32% for his main rival, Dervis Eroglu's National Unity Party, with 98% of votes counted, officials said.

Mr Talat pledged to work for the reunification of Cyprus and closer ties to Europe, and said he would begin forming a new government straight away.

The European Commission welcomed the win as showing desire for integration.

Mr Talat backed a UN reunification plan for Cyprus, which was opposed by Mr Eroglu and by Greek Cypriot voters.

Most Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of the plan in a referendum on the divided island last April.

With 98% of the ballot boxes counted, Mr Talat told reporters: "We will start work to form a new government tomorrow.

"This is a success for Turkish Cypriots, for those who want a peace."

Mr Eroglu congratulated Mr Talat, calling the election "a good example of democracy".

Sunday's results "indicate a clear desire of the Turkish Cypriot community to continue preparations for their full integration into the EU", the European Commission said in a statement.

Alliances

"The results also show that the Turkish Cypriots are committed to the reunification of Cyprus."

Unofficial results showed Mr Talat's party winning about half the seats in the 50-member parliament, with the NUP projected to take 18.

Official results are expected on Monday, with turnout estimated at 74%.

Sunday's election was called after Mr Talat's governing coalition collapsed last October when it could no longer maintain a parliamentary majority.

Mr Talat has not yet said whether his RTP will renew its coalition with the much smaller Democrat Party of Serdar Denktash, which is projected to take 14% of the vote.

Before the vote Mr Denktash - the son of veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash - had not ruled out the possibility of forming an alliance with Mr Eroglu, if he won enough seats.

Breakaway state

Few Turkish Cypriots believe these elections will have a significant impact on the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem, the BBC's Tabitha Morgan reports.

Most Turkish Cypriots want to see their island reunited and to join the European Union.

However, only the internationally recognised Greek south of the island was allowed to join the European Union.

In a few weeks, voters will return to the polls to elect a new president.

Cyprus has been split into the Greek-Cypriot controlled south and the Turkish-occupied north since Turkey invaded in 1974 in the wake of an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece.

The breakaway state in the north is only recognised by Turkey, which maintains 40,000 troops there.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/worl...ope/4281103.stm

[coldwhitelight]

Most Turkish Cypriots want to see their island reunited and to join the European Union. The internationally unrecognised Turkish north of Cyprus remains isolated from the EU.

Northern Cyprus isolation is the cause of Turkey invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The Turkish military forcibly divided country, which led to an illegal military occupation and the forming of an unrecognized government called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which declared itself an independent state on November/15/1983.

Turkish Cypriots who wish to see Cyprus untied should call on Turkey to end its illegal military occupation of Northern Cyprus.

Brussels promised to lift many of the international embargoes against northern Cyprus and to introduce a mechanism for European trade.

The EU clearly sympathises with the plight of Turkish Cypriots who have been excluded from EU membership by circumstances outside their control, namely the Greek Cypriot vote against reunification.

The European Union needs to understand, the Greek Cypriots did not divide Cyprus. There are many factors that played a role in the Cyprus conflict, However Turkey invaded, divided and has illegally occupied the country since 1974. Because of these events, the international embargoes placed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should not end until Turkey ends its illegal military occupation.

Edited February 23, 2006 by coldwhitelight

[Erikl]

Northern Cyprus isolation is the cause of Turkey invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The Turkish military forcibly divided country, which led to an illegal military occupation and the forming of an unrecognized government called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which declared itself an independent state on November/15/1983.

Turkish Cypriots who wish to see Cyprus untied should call on Turkey to end its illegal military occupation of Northern Cyprus.

No mention of Greek violence against the Turkish Cypriots and the fact that the pro-fascist Greek Cypriot government wanted to unite with Greece (just as Crete is part of Greece), eh?

There were reasons why the Turks entered.

If anyone remembers, there was a fascist coup in Greece back in the later 1960s, early 1970s.

Those fascists propogated the creation of a Greater Greece, uniting all Greek speaking lands or lands where once Greeks had a large presence (such as Izmir in Turkey, and Cyprus).

A pro-Greece government was voted into power in Cyprus, supporting a union with fascist Greece. May it also be reminded that ever since the Ottoman occupation ended in Cyprus in the 19th century, the Turks there were harrased and were looked down by the Greek majority.

The vote of the Greek Cypriots against a union with the Turkish part to enable them to enjoy the EU as well is once again a proof of how popular the hatred of the Turkish Cypriots is.

[Birmingham]

It should be noted that the treaty allowing Cyprus to be indipendant guarenteed the non interference by Greece and Turkey in the soverenty of Cyprus. And spacifficly allowed Greece and Turkey to come to the aid of its people incase the other side tried to take over the island and incorperate it into the other nation. This the Greek junta tried to do. And Turkey reacted according to the treaty. What would have been the Greek reaction if it was the Turks who tried to take over the whole island and incorperate it into Turky.

[coldwhitelight]

No mention of Greek violence against the Turkish Cypriots and the fact that the pro-fascist Greek Cypriot government wanted to unite with Greece (just as Crete is part of Greece), eh?

There were reasons why the Turks entered.

If anyone remembers, there was a fascist coup in Greece back in the later 1960s, early 1970s.

Those fascists propogated the creation of a Greater Greece, uniting all Greek speaking lands or lands where once Greeks had a large presence (such as Izmir in Turkey, and Cyprus).

A pro-Greece government was voted into power in Cyprus, supporting a union with fascist Greece. May it also be reminded that ever since the Ottoman occupation ended in Cyprus in the 19th century, the Turks there were harrased and were looked down by the Greek majority.

The vote of the Greek Cypriots against a union with the Turkish part to enable them to enjoy the EU as well is once again a proof of how popular the hatred of the Turkish Cypriots is.

The ethnic conflict in Cyprus is the result of British manipulation of the Turkish Cypriots. In an effort to try to quell the ambitions of the Cypriots people and the Greek Cypriots freedom fighters from forming a union with Greece, the British recruited Turkish Cypriots to help them in their efforts to try to subdue the Greek Cypriots freedom fighters and stop the union. Thus, the Greek Cypriots, who thought that they were waging a struggle against the British, found themselves also having to face Turkish Cypriots.

The outcome of the British placing Greek Cypriots against Turkish Cypriots was the forming of the terrorist organization called the Turkish Resistance Organization. With help from Turkey, The T.M.T used paramilitary tactics to create propaganda and provoke ethnic conflict when none would otherwise have arisen.

When Cyprus gained its independence from Britain in 1960, Makarios III was elected President. Makarios III who once supported a union with Greece, decided it would be best of the country to moved towards social harmony and independence. However many factors played a role in undermining of his goals.

Edited February 24, 2006 by coldwhitelight