Erdogan said it was time for the embargo against Turkish Cypriots to be lifted

ANKARA, April 25 (IslamOnlin.net & News Agencies) – Seeking a new deal for the Turkish community of Cyprus, Turkey went on the diplomatic offensive Sunday, April 25, following the failure of a referendum on reuniting the island, with the government 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 U.N.-backed settlement proposal just days ahead of Cyprus joining the European Union.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday he was convinced “the policy of isolating the Turkish Cypriots will end,” according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

His ruling Party of Justice and Development also hopes Turkish support for reunification will boost Turkey's own aspiration to join the expanding E.U.

Referendum

Separate referendums were held Saturday, April 24, in the two parts of Cyprus on a U.N. 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 E.U. 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 E.U. as planned, while Turkish Cypriots will stay out in the cold.

The internationally-recognized Greek Cypriots were promised E.U. membership regardless of whether a reunification deal was reached or not.

History

Turkish Cypriots “yes” vote put the international community to the test

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.

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 (GDP) per capita is about $5,000, according to official figures, while that of the Cypriot Republic is the richest of the 10 new E.U. members with annual GDP per capita of $22,000.

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.

The European Union Commission had promised some 260 million euros ($307 million) to the Turkish community if unification were achieved.

The United States, which has pushed for a Cyprus settlement, had let it be known it would favor easing sanctions if the Greek Cypriots voted against in the referendum.

Lifting Of Sanctions

Turkish Cypriots felt they had won the moral high ground by backing the peace deal and deserve to see economic sanctions lifted as a reward.

They argue that it is high time now that the international community lifted the economic embargo which has hobbled its economy for the past 30 years.

“It is the victory of the people,” the Kibrisli daily trumpeted Sunday on its front page, while the Vatan newspaper said: “It is now the turn of the international community” to help.

"”t is time now for the world to allow us to trade and communicate as free people and to help us repair our economy,” Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said following the vote.

“Many people voted 'yes' not because they liked the plan, but out of frustration with the international isolation.”

Denktash, who led the campaign for the “No” vote in TRNC, immediately called for the lifting of the embargo imposed because of his territory's secession.

“The European Union and the United States have said that Turkish Cypriots could not be left out in the cold if Greek Cypriots vote 'no' - let us now see whether they mean what they say,” he added.

“We abided by our commitments. It is now the turn of the international community to prepare proposals... to alleviate or remove the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots,” added his Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat.

“The Turkish Cypriot people can no longer be seen as separatist or intransigent,” he said.

Speaking in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, whose government forced Denktash to agree to the referendum in a bid to boost its own chances of joining the euro bloc, also called for the lifting of sanctions.

“The embargoes... cannot continue,” Gul said.

Greek Cypriots woke up to gray diplomatic skies after foreign powers strongly criticized their “no” vote

The European Commission in Brussels said Turkish Cypriot approval of the plan “signals a clear desire of the community to resolve the island's problems”.

E.U. foreign ministers, who expressed disappointment at the Greeks' rejection of the plan put forward by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, were expected to review developments at a meeting Monday, April 26.

The United States also expressed disappointment at the Greek Cypriot vote and praised the “courage” of Turkish Cypriots.

The State Department did not mention any steps Washington might take to ease hardships faced by the Turkish Cypriots, but spokesman Richard Boucher said recently that the United States "would not leave the Turkish Cypriots out in the cold".

Analysts expect some sanctions to be lifted against the north, including allowing direct international air and sea links, a move that would facilitate exports and ease constraints on tourism - the island's top revenue-earner.

Turkey has indicated it might also campaign for international recognition of the 200,000-strong statelet.

But officials in northern Cyprus appeared divided over whether to agitate for outright recognition or seek ways to boost cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus and the European Union.

Meanwhile, without reunification, the island's E.U. membership creates an anomalous situation in which an E.U. membership applicant, Turkey, is occupying part of the territory of a member-state. Turkey has 30,000 troops in northern Cyprus.