Aytug Fazil Plumer: Time to grasp olive branch

It is disheartening to see from Achilleas Antoniades (Perspectives, Nov 30) that the Greek Cypriot administration still harbours every intention of abusing its full membership status within the EU to force Turkey to forfeit its legitimate rights and obligations over Cyprus and to abandon the Turkish Cypriots.

Let us recall at the outset that had the Greek Cypriot side not rejected the comprehensive settlement plan of the UN Secretary-General in the simultaneous referendums held in April 2004, Cyprus would have joined the EU as a reunified federal republic.

However, 76 per cent of the Greek Cypriot people voted against the blueprint, signifying their overwhelming refusal to enter into a power-sharing arrangement with the Turkish Cypriots, who voted "yes", demonstrating their desire for a bi-zonal solution based on political equality.

The Greek Cypriot side, having been given the green light by the EU for membership, had no incentive or political will to reconcile with the Turkish Cypriot side, and thus opted to enjoy the benefits of the usurped title of the "Republic of Cyprus" and EU membership on its own.

Antoniades raises the issue of troop presence, as well as the issues of abandoned properties and displaced people.

These are issues which have affected people on both sides of the border, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots alike, not since 1974 but since 1963 when the seat of government was occupied forcefully by the Greek Cypriot wing of the bi-communal Republic of Cyprus. These issues were effectively and fairly addressed by the UN comprehensive settlement plan.

The rejection of the plan by the Greek Cypriots was a missed opportunity, but more significantly an outright no to a compromise solution by one of the two parties.

After the referendum, the UN Secretary-General applauded the Turkish Cypriots for approving the plan, notwithstanding the sacrifices it entailed, and expressed regret that they would not equally enjoy the benefits of EU membership.

Antoniades' claim that the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is "self-imposed" is ridiculous. Turkish Cypriots have been subject to economic restrictions and human rights violations since 1963, when they were pushed out of the government structures and forced to live in enclaves.

These restrictions are still being implemented by the Greek Cypriot administration in all spheres of life.

After the referendums, the EU Council asked the European Commission to regulate the direct disbursement of earmarked financial aid to North Cyprus, and to make proposals on regulating trade with North Cyprus with a view to helping its development. However, the Greek Cypriot administration, as a full member of the EU, has been sparing no effort to prevent the implementation of the two draft regulations.

Turkey's own EU membership process ought to be evaluated on its own merits and within agreed parameters. Turkey has fulfilled all of the required criteria prior to the start of accession talks. The attempts by the Greek Cypriot administration to introduce any political conditions for Turkey's full membership are unacceptable.

The Greek Cypriot side should be encouraged to reach for the olive branches extended by the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, as would be consistent with the European approaches towards peace and reconciliation.

* Aytug Fazil Plumer is the representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Abu Dhabi.