ANKARA, 26 April 2004 — Turkey went on the diplomatic offensive yesterday seeking a new deal for the Turkish community of Cyprus following failure of a referendum on reuniting the island, with the government here demanding an end to Turkish Cypriot isolation.
The government immediately began lobbying for international support for the 200,000-strong minority after rejection of a UN-backed settlement proposal just days ahead of Cyprus joining the European Union. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday he was convinced “the policy of isolating the Turkish Cypriots will end.”
His ruling Party of Justice and Development also hopes Turkish support for reunification will boost Turkey’s own aspiration to join the European Union.
“We expect that Turkey’s positive steps will have repercussions for its application,” Erdogan said.
Only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which has otherwise been subject to international ostracism and sanctions ever since it was set up in 1983.
Cyprus has been divided since Turkey invaded its north in 1974 in response to a Greek Cypriot military coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece.
Separate referendums were held on Saturday in the two parts of Cyprus on a UN peace plan to reunite the Mediterranean island as a loose confederation of two ethnic zones.
The Turkish Cypriot minority voted in favor.
But their rivals, the Greek Cypriot majority, voted overwhelmingly against, thus killing off the scheme, and with it hopes of Cyprus joining the European Union as a united community next Saturday, May 1.
Almost 65 percent of TRNC voters backed the proposals, while 75 percent of Greek Cypriots said no.
The rejection means only the Greek Cypriot republic will join the EU as planned, while Turkish Cypriots will stay out in the cold.
The internationally-recognized Greek Cypriots were promised EU membership regardless of whether a reunification deal was reached or not.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called on the international community to lift the sanctions which have choked the TRNC, opening a wide prosperity gap between it and the Greek south.
The Turkish Cypriot community is cut off from the world and depends entirely for survival on Turkey funding it with $200 million annually.
Gross domestic product per capita is about $5,000, according to official figures, while that of the Cypriot Republic is the richest of the 10 new EU members with annual GDP per capita of $22,000 dollars.
Tourism is the main source of revenue in the Turkish Cypriot area. However access is restricted and foreign arrivals must enter by boat or plane via Turkey.
Turkish leaders are now determined things must change.
“From now on there’s a new situation in Cyprus,” said Gul.
Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot president who campaigned for a no-vote in the referendum, also made an appeal for an end to isolation.
And his Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said: “We have honored our commitments. Now it’s up to the international community to make come up with proposals.”
