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Greek PM urges Turk troop withdrawal from Cyprus

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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS
NICOSIA – The Associated Press
Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias (R) shakes hands with Greek prime minister George Papandreou after their meeting at the presidential palace in the divided capital of Nicosia on Oct. 19. Greece's new prime minister is in Cyprus on his first official visit abroad to hold talks with the Greek Cypriot government on efforts to reunify the island. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias (R) shakes hands with Greek prime minister George Papandreou after their meeting at the presidential palace in the divided capital of Nicosia on Oct. 19. Greece's new prime minister is in Cyprus on his first official visit abroad to hold talks with the Greek Cypriot government on efforts to reunify the island. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Greece’s new prime minister urged Turkey on Monday to withdraw thousands of its troops from Cyprus to help ongoing talks aimed at reunifying the divided island.

The long-festering dispute on the eastern Mediterranean island has poisoned relations between Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, undermining the military alliance and European Union cooperation on security and hindering Turkey’s bid for EU membership.

“It is a matter that either we solve to unite us, or it will keep us divided,” George Papandreou said after talks with Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias.

Cyprus was split into a Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot south in 1974. The island joined the European Union in 2004, but only Greek Cypriots enjoy the benefits of membership.

“Certainly, occupation troops cannot be allowed to exist in an EU member state, especially by an EU candidate country,” said Papandreou, who is paying his first official visit abroad as prime minister after winning general elections earlier this month.

Year-long talks between Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have so far produced little real progress.

Christofias is blaming Turkey for restricting Talat’s ability to negotiate an agreement on complex issues such as power-sharing under a federal structure and arrangements on property lost during the war. Turkey says it fully backs the peace process.

The Greek Cypriot leader renewed his support for Turkey’s bid to join the EU, but added: “We are not masochists ... We cannot accept Turkey proceeding to full union membership without first achieving a Cyprus settlement.”

Cyprus is already blocking the key energy chapter in EU-Turkey accession talks – one of 35 that Turkey must negotiate with the bloc.


 

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Guest - Gregoire
2009-11-10 15:30:28
  Well, there are many arguments why Cyprus can and should be united in one state. 1) First of all its geography: Turkey is a very big country and it has in it a lot of people that are of different ethnic origins, Kurdish and Turkish primarily (the Armenian and the Greeks have been kicked out anyway). Nobody proposes that Turkey splits into two states a Kurdish turkey and a Turkish Turkey. This would be absurd, geographically it would not make sense and eventually even if now there is a lot of friction, things can get much better. 2) Bad propaganda: People, politicians, and militaristic morons usually chew the same gum, that Greek and Turkish Cypriots cannot live together. Well if that was the case, then why do so many thousands of Turkish Cypriots have sought to acquire a Republic of Cyprus nationality, and second, why did the Greek Cypriots grant it? I do think that people can live together. 3) Politics: The Eu is a sea of freedom. I know that in Turkey Greece is often portrayed as a country that abuses human rights. In some instances this is correct. Yet if you compare any EU country (including Greece) and the Turkish record in human rights you will easily see (this newspaper knows this well) that the size and scale of human rights abuses in Turkey are unparalleled in the EU. This means that Turkish Cypriots would live better in an EU umbrella (in a unified Cypriot state) than they would live in Turkey. This is not to say that you guys dont live well in Turkey. You have a great standard of living, with great universities, great weather and beaches etc. But in the north of Cyprus there is one Turkish soldier for every three Turkish Cypriots...and I dont think that this is to protect them from an invasion from the south... 4) With the Lisbon Treaty in the EU, states have less decision power on their own, even for their own country. This is a great guarantee for the Turkish Cypriots who are still 'scared of the Greeks'. I use the quotation marks because I dont really believe that the Turkish Cypriots are scared of the Greeks. All Greeks who have visited the north in the last few years have been generally welcomed and have very nice memories from their visit...so I dont really think that the Turks are really afraid of them (there is nothing they should be afraid of anyway). The times now are very different from what they were in the sixties and seventies, Cyprus is an EU country that does extremely well, has a very strong economy and so on and so forth. 5) And this leads to the last point. Turkish is an official language in the Republic of Cyprus together with Greek and English. There are still places vacant for Turkish Cypriots in the parliament. There is nothing to be afraid of. It is very important to keep cool and forget nationalistic maxima. Cyprus should be again one country, and everyone would benefit if it became one country. Everyone. Turkey spends millions every day for Cyprus, for a Cyprus that creates a lot of problems to it, offers little in return and will never ever allow Turkish accession in the EU without a clear resolution, no matter what Turkey does. Turkey spends a great deal of effort in its foreign policy to justify the unjustifiable, the fact that it maintains a huge army in an occupied land, EU land. The contribution of the Turkish Cypriot economy to Turkey's is nil, the geopolitical advantage is little and is countered by the isolation of Turkey internationally in this issue. And ultimately, if anyone wants to create trouble to Turkey with the Kurds, the best example they can use is occupied Turkish Cyprus...think about it.
  

Guest - Cem
2009-10-21 18:50:38
  Reading these blogs can only reassure me that a happy and functioning united Cyprus can never be. There is a mutual hatred, far nastier and more virulent on the Greek side. The Greeks simply want the island all for themselves, and the Turks off it. Always was, always will be. And as long as Greek Cyprus is controlled by their church, this is the way it will stay. Don't forget, right now the clergy are threatening a political thermopolye unless the government accedes to their demands for higher pay and even more influence. It was ever thus. These morons in black egg the gullible old women and their families to vote as they are told; and the people do. For them all Turks are barbarians; end of. Partition is a de facto reality, and it works. It would work even better if the two states were internationally recognised. Then, in a hundred years maybe, the two nations might decide they'd rather be joined. But why would they want to do that?
  

Guest - Sener
2009-10-21 18:22:23
  As a Turkish Cypriot as far as I’m concern there is a peace in Cyprus since 1974. Rest is history. The Turkish troops should remain on the island forever. No body not to be trusted. Turkish troops are our guarding Angels Why the Greeks want the Turkish troop out of Cyprus? I wonder WHY? This new prime minister wants to “unite” the island, but wishes for Turks to cut off what is essentially their only support system (Turkey). This will never happen. How hypocritical is it Greece’s new prime minister would suggest that Turkey remove their troops from the Turkish side of Cyprus when Greek soldiers still remain on the island?! Is this a joke?
  

Guest - Hussein
2009-10-21 14:49:12
  I can't be bothered wasting my energy man, life's too short to spend it reading the views of people that DON'T all want the same thing making out like they really really do. Pull the other one it plays ding dong bells!
  

Guest - Costas
2009-10-21 12:48:28
  Umit, thanks for your opinion. However, on one of the points raised by you; I personally would not want to see Enosis with Greece. Yes, we are Greeks, but as Cypriots we have distinct differences. Every year I holiday in Greece and although I love the country and its history, Cyprus has its own way of life and traditions which I love even more. And every year when I go to Cyprus, I see an island that is far more progressive in all regards than Greece, from infrastructure to law and order and an economy that is more stable. What would be the benefit of enosis I ask? History should have taught ALL Cypriots that they have always been better off when Greece and Turkey are at arms length. That is the way it should stay. As if Greece and Turkey really care about Cyprus that much anyway!! Cyprus is simply a matter of national pride for both countries and a political football which is kicked around come election time. Both motherlands have far more serious issues to deal with than a few hundred thousand Cypriots to care about! Ans as for religion, well religion and politics don't mix, so Islam and Orthodoxy should be kept out of civil affairs which concern the day to day running of peoples lives.That is something else EU laws will take care of. regards, Costas
  

Guest - Francois
2009-10-21 12:18:01
  The most funny in all this is to think that Greece also has troops on the Cyprus island. To summarize on the Cyprus island you have: . Greek Army . (Greek)Cypriot National Guard . Turkish Cypriot Army . Turkish Army . UK Army . UN Peace Force YES 6 different armies... I don't think removing only one is going to solve anything..
  

Guest - Hope
2009-10-21 10:22:46
  We are all CYPRIOTS for goodness sake!Let's make it one great nation for future generations to enjoy .
  

Guest - Umit
2009-10-21 04:35:32
  Hi to all, i am a Cypriot Turk born and raised in London and my views may significantly vary. Of course as a Cypriot i want to see peace, and it is true that in places such as London we Cypriots of both sides live in peace together and certain younger Cypriots inter marry. However on the contrary of the aforementioned i firmly believe that peace is not possible due to various factors. Most of the Greek Cypriots i speak to still would eventually like to see a union with Greece (enosis) either officially or unofficially. Secondly most people miss the fact that Cypriot Greeks are highly religious and although most of my people are sadly not anymore the mere presence of our religion on the island besides christianity is a cause for concern. Besides these factors i firmly believe with the utmost sincerety that as a Turk none the less being Cypriot it is our duty to stay loyal to our motherlands in all aspects to preserve our cultural heritage, which we all see is being harmed today because of a shift in cultural balance on the island. So basically although we all would like to see peace be the end result i concieve it as impractical for our peoples interests. And please let us not forget the events of the past such as 1950's, 1960's and of course the infamous 1974! Europe says they will be the guarantees for the safety of the Cypriots in the future, but please answer this, wasn't European nations seeing and discussing in parliaments the events of the years? and although there are public records proving the opinions of UK mp's in support of the Turkish Cypriots, whom is the peoples being punished for a crime that they never started??
  

Guest - peter Joannou
2009-10-21 02:28:30
  It seems that most Turks are so brainwashed that cannot see that occupying part of a country, kicking people out of their homes, looting and destroying their culture is a violation of basic human rights. There are many UN and security council resolutions that condemned Turkey's actions. Yet we hear the same story the same propaganda presenting the aggressor as been the victim and the one treated unfairly by the rest of the world and in particular Europe. May be the lack of freedom of speech is not allowing people to investigate and analyze facts which leaves all Turks subjected to the exact same propaganda.
  

Guest - hussein
2009-10-21 00:17:51
  All I ever hear from Greeks is Turkey this & Turkey that and never do I hear a word about Turkish Cypriots! That's right Turkish cypriots! guess what, WE EXIST! that's right we're still here thanks to the turkish army, thank God for the Turkish army who didn't turn their backs on us but stood up to do the job that Greece & the UK couldn't.
  

Guest - Cem
2009-10-20 23:09:52
  The Turkish army is causing no harm to anyone, and offers security to Turkish Cypriots; just in case. Like, just in case EOKA gets going again and Enosis rears its ugly head once more. Turkey intervened in 1974 for a very good reason; one the Greeks choose to forget. When the Greek Cypriots recognise that the Turkish army is a protective force, and there because of the Greeks' attempted occupation and genocide - just like in the invasion of Turkey by Greece in 1920 - we will all be able to move on. Whitewashing history, like buildings, is something the Greeks, Cypriot and mainland, are good at.
  

Guest - Brian
2009-10-20 22:10:46
  There is every need for the Turkish troops to remain in the TRNC, they have ensured peace for the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots for the last 35 years. Never again will the Turkish Cypriots be taken for granted, treated as second class citiziens in their homeland and have their elected representatives deposed from the positions rightfully theirs under the constitution. The Turkish troops should remain until the Greek Cypriots prove their sincerity in a united Cyprus by accepting Turkish Cypriots as equals. Instead over the last 35 years the Greek Cypriots have left no stone unturned in their efforts to isolate their Turkish Cypriot brothers. That is hardly the hand of friendship and reconciliation!!
  

Guest - John
2009-10-20 21:21:45
  It is very clear to anyone with common sence that should the Republic of Cyprus allow direct trade to the occupied north of Cyprus in return for Tukey opening it's ports Then Turkey will not allow the Turkish Cypriots to continue negotiating with the Republic,as the North will have gained all the recognition they need .A far bigger prize than the South will have by having use of Turkish ports. As far as Turkish EU membership is concerned the Turkish military and deep state have no respect or care for the freedoms and prosperity of the ordinary Turkish or Turkish Cypriot citizens and would prefer to keep Turkey out of the EU to protect their own gains and self interests. The Greek Cypriots ,not being a huge military power like Turkey have no choice other than to use their EU membership and other peaceful means to reunite their country.
  

Guest - Alexandros
2009-10-20 20:26:18
  Kaya and Costas, it is a pleasure to see that there may be people here who can actually TALK and LISTEN to each other without going back to the nationalistic rhetoric of the 60s and 70s. Being Greek, I understand that there is a need to address the security concerns of Tukish Cypriots. Personally, I don't blame them. They went through a lot of hardship and pain from 1963 to 1974; and that was when the pain and suffering started for Greek Cypriots. The reasons - for those who can read history with a critical eye - lay on both sides. How can we move on now? My guess is that while no high-rank official on either side admits the terrible mistakes that were made by their OWN side, then Turkish Cypriots have every right to question the motives of Greek Cypriots, and vice-versa. With neither side expressing regret or remorse to the other side, I am afraid peace is still a long way away. P.S. Just today I read that, during Papandreou's visit to Cyprus, Christofias mentioned that "forces guides by nationalist and chauvinistic motives on both sides led us to where we are today". Maybe - hopefully - this indirect acceptance of responsibility for past events can be a new beginning...
  

Guest - Kasper Immerkjaer
2009-10-20 19:45:57
  A good gesture could be to withdraw half of the troops or more - just keep enough to guarantie the safety of the turks. It wouldn´t tip the power balance but I will surely be a good political signal. EU and GREECE should then start trade with north Cyprus immidiately as a consequence of the greek "no" to the UN created agreement in 2004
  

Guest - SYI
2009-10-20 18:52:55
  First, Greek-Cypriots and EU should meet the promises made to Turkish-Cypriots during the 2004 referendum. This will be a good sign to the Turkish side and it will repare EU's reliability damage. After that a Turkish entity on the island must be guaranteed constitutionally so past mistakes/ethnic cleansing by Greek-Cypriots can't be repeated. Only then, as a final step, a partial Turkish troop withdrawal can be possible...
  

Guest - Robert Smith
2009-10-20 18:29:57
  How can the turks remove there troops from cyprus, when the greeks have never kept there word, and can not be trusted. ex united nations service man.
  

Guest - noname
2009-10-20 18:06:19
  yes,yes sure they want to live between soldiers ..hahaaha sure....While in the other side there is wealth better facilities ,etc..I bet even the turks hate it..and everyone knows the problems in a place full of soldiers...
  

Guest - Demir
2009-10-20 17:47:42
  Nope, no way, never! Until there is a solution with which both sides are satisfied, the Turks on the island will ask the Turkish Military to go themselves.
  

Guest - Kaya
2009-10-20 16:33:31
  Costa's, you have the right attitude. If you live in London, which you probably do, Palmers Green is an example of little Cyprus :p I do think the Greek/Turkish cypriot diaspora has shown us its possible to unite peacefully, though i dont really think a federated cyprus has the ability to work. We will see.
  

Guest - noname
2009-10-20 16:31:55
  if you do not dictate the island as you say in cyprus there is democracy if the people there vote for the soldiers to go will you let them go?cause if not u are dictators..As far the turkish people they want the cyprus to be unites cause the greek side is much more wealthy than the poor turkish site..They will have access in hospitals and things like these are u kidding?i bet that they are the first who want the soldiers out..
  

Guest - Kaya
2009-10-20 16:31:07
  I find it suspicious that the Greek Cypriot government cannot continue peace talks with Turkish troops on the North, under the agreement they withdraw should a peace deal be met. Its a ploy by Christofia's to weaken the Turkish Cypriot side and relieve pressure on the South. Its also another tactic to loose precious time trying to find an agreement and in the process of doing so, blaming Turkey for it, when most of the reasons why the negotiating process has been slow and tedious is because of the stubborness and the pathetic agendas of the South.
  

Guest - Askin
2009-10-20 15:36:41
  Martin: Your facts reflect Greek-Cypriot hypocrisy. The Greeks had a chance to unite the island and they voted against it. There are many more people who have settled in South Cyprus (Greeks, Russians, Brits, Kurds, Armenians, etc) than has the North. The Turkish military has protected the North for the last 35 years - the Turkish military has not attacked the South since - they have kept the peace. I'm sorry, but Ankara does not dictate the foreign policy of Cyprus. We vote politicians in and the people do not want to return to something that didn't work prior to 1974. There are those Turkish Cypriots who wanted to unite with the South back in 2004, but the tide has changed since the Greek voted against it. Since the West and the EU has turned its back on us after urging us to vote for peace back in 2004 by making promises that it never kept, we never never trust someone from the west or South Cyprus again. The worst salesman are full of bullsh*t.
  

Guest - MARTIN
2009-10-20 15:08:25
  The nationalist comments posted here fail to reflect reality. There is absolutely no need for the Turkish military to remain in the north of the island, the Greek military are not in Cyprus. Policy for the occupied north of the island is dictated from Ankara as part of its foreign and domestic policies. If the Turkish military and Turkish immigrants return to the mainland, the true Cypriot people (Turks and Greeks) can have a great united future in the EU. If this does not happen the occupied north will remain a Turkish puppet state outside the EU.
  

Guest - noname
2009-10-20 15:07:47
  the most stupid comments ever..So what do you mean that we should invade in turkey and let there some thousands of troops to protect the greeks and cypriots there?Nice idea..If every state did something like this to protect their minorities as you say cause i doubt how many people really believe you i do not know what it would happen..If the troops go you know that have no chance for having the island..The problem is that if you have nt been born yersterday you would know that you have no hopes...The cyprians hate you ..How will you unite the island with the troops inside without problem ?They will be sent out in the end..
  

Guest - peter Joannou
2009-10-20 14:52:34
  Mr Enturk you got it right. No Greek government and for that matter no civilized nation will approve the fact that a country in this case Turkey can take over part of a small island, forced its people to leave their properties and houses, kill and loot and then claim it belongs to other people. And then appear as the victim because noone is supporting and aiding that occupied part. Under what human rights article or EU principles this kind of crime can be justified. As for the Dolmas and dolmades story no Greek book is shy of stating that the word is Turkish. We have many foods and words in Greek of Turkish origin as well as names of people. This shows the connection and coexistence of two cultures that Turkey is trying to separate in order to create another country in Cyprus. But guess what? When a visited Turkey and Efesos and Aprodisia and Militos the Turkish guide never indicated that these were Greek ruins and belong to the Greek civilization. I was reading the Greek on these ancient ruins listening to a propaganda that these ruins are Roman or belong to some local tribes or the Greeks came left then came and then left again. A serious falsification of history and archeology right in front of my eyes.
  

Guest - Costas
2009-10-20 14:38:27
  I read some of the comments on here with dismay. As a Greek-Cypriot born in England, I see both sides of the argument. My parents taught me that the Turks were to blame for everything, but I have conducted my own research and see things for what they are. Both sides bear responsibility for the past. However, isn't it time Greek Cypriots & Turkish Cypriots left behind the old ideology and fears and tried a new course? In England, Greek & Turkish Cypriots live together and work together in peace. There are differences but not hatred. There are many things in common between the two which are celebrated and enjoyed, from music to food, words and traditions, and of course, a common homeland. The French and the English hated each other for centuries, but have learned to live in peace and harmony together, and the EU has brought many former rivals into an umbrella of peace. The Greeks & Turks are no different. Yes, we both have a proud history which identifies us and unites us, but it shouldn't blind us either. It is time for compromise and acceptance by all sides. The Greeks want to return to their family homes, and the Turkish Cypriots want security guarantees that they will never be overun or threatened ever again by Greek Cypriots. All needs can be met. But it requires courage, conviction, forgiveness and compromise.
  

Guest - peter Joannou
2009-10-20 14:03:32
  Turkey a strong military power, 40 miles away from Cyprus with air force, navy and ground troops is not threatened by anyone in the region let alone half a million Greek Cypriots with no air force, no navy and no ground troops to match the Turkish army. So on one hand Turkey declares sincerity about finding a solution to the Cyprus problem yet it takes no step to demonstrate that. What if the 40,000 troops become 20,000 still superior to what the Greek part can put together? Wouldn't that change the climate and help the negotiations? The Annan plan failed to be approved by the majority of the Greek Cypriots because they did not trust Turkey that would pull out its troops and return the properties agreed to as they were loop holes and a language difficult to understand. Plus the the pull out of the troops was over a period of 20 years. The security of the Turkish Cypriots was and remains an excuse for Turkey to be in Cyprus. There are Turkish Cypriots who chose to move to the South and have been living there for over 30 years. No one was killed or discriminated. In every government office or super market you visit in the south you meet Turkish Cypriots. I have not seen anyone in fear. In contrast if you visit Karpasia where a pocket of Greek Cypriots are living there, most of them left, there is fear and they are under pressure to move out. Cyprus is a member of EU and that is where it belongs because its people evolve to be more democratic with values identical to the rest of Europe. The Greek Cypriots of the 50's and 60's and that mentality is long gone. Cyprus is becoming a multicultural society and very tolerant due to immigrants from 3rd world countries and is abiding with every European law. Yet the Turkish propaganda is keep repeating the same tune of the events of the early 60's without self criticizing the actions of TMT and Turkey which were continuously promoting partition of the island. These actions aided by some extreme Greek nationalists who never represented the majority of Greek Cypriots brought us where we are. These extreme Greek nationalist are gone and no longer have any influence. But Turkey continues its policy of partition. Partition is something that should be tested in Turkey first with the Kurds and the other minorities.
  

Guest - Cavlan
2009-10-20 13:43:59
  Insisting on Turkish Troop withdrawals before the final and lasting political solution for Cyprus is reached is a clear sign of illfated attitute. All Mainlander Greeks and Greek Cypriots should know it that adequate number and deterrent Turkish Troop deployments will continue even after the political solution. Turkish Cypriots DO NOT trust any foreign guarantees which will replace physical and effective Turkish Guarantees. Continuation of the Turkish Guarantees is a MUST for the Turkish Cypriot People. We have all experienced non-effectiveness of the international guarantees in the Balkans.
  

Guest - hunni
2009-10-20 13:07:04
  I agree with Erden. Turkey would be crazy to remove its troops from the T R N C that is just what the greeks want then they would march in a steal the whole Island.
  

Guest - Mehmet
2009-10-20 12:57:03
  The Greek Prime Minister should know that the Turkish soldiers are in North Cyprus for the saftey and security of the Turkish Cypriots. Most of the soldiers were to leave the island under the Annan plan which was rejected by the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish soldiers will reduce their numbers when a settlement is reached and not before. As it currently stand the EU will never replace the security gurantees provided by the Turkish soldiers. The Greek Cypriots and the rest of their EU club members should understand and respect this.
  

Guest - Enturk
2009-10-20 12:11:25
  Nice one Greeks! So the leadership in greece has changed but the same attitude persist...basically you took a "DOLMA" & made it "DOLMADES" & you are selling it as your own - new, exciting friendly brand...sure no problem & Turkey was born yesterday. So what should we do, pull the troops out & then what you leave us in the lurch, AGAIN? To what end, a renewed & deepened isolation & crippling of TURKISH CYPRIOTS basic rights, freedoms, again? Man that policy, if you call it that is not even funny. What characteristics of a nation would manifest such an outcome? Stupidity or naivety? You guys must really wake yourselves up from this dream or delusion that you are the 'beacon of hope' & wonder of intelligence in this region & everyonelse is backward retards or barbaric hoons. That propaganda is old, tired & boring & its not cutting the "HELLIM", not "halloumi" anymore - much like modern greece isnt it?
  

Guest - Erden
2009-10-20 11:14:34
  Cyprus should have never been let into EU whilst it was divided, but yet you still did, but now you say Turkey can't join till Cyprus is sorted out? doesnt make sense to me. European Union = Hypocrisy Maximus
  

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