TURKEY/CYPRUS: Turkey should recognise the Greek Cypriot majority Republic of Cyprus, the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said yesterday. Michael Jansen reports from Nicosia
"The world has recognised [it]. What can you achieve by saying you do not recognise it? There is nothing to benefit from it," he said.
The Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, followed up Mr Erdogan's remarks by saying that Turkey has no option but to recognise Cyprus. "This is a sour fact ... it is indicative of the collapse of the 40-year-old policy pursued by Ankara and Turkish Nicosia."
He said that Turkey could not expect to have good relations with the EU, receive a date for the start of accession talks and, eventually, join if Ankara continues to boycott one of the bloc's members.
While the entire island joined the EU last Saturday in law, only the southern, Greek-dominated part of the island did in reality. Cyprus has been divided since a Greek-inspired coup in 1974 sparked an invasion by Turkey.
Shortly before joining the EU, Greek Cypriots voted against a UN-sponsored settlement plan which aimed to see the whole island enter the Union. The mainly Turkish northern part of the island voted in favour, however.
Greek Cypriots were widely criticised for what was seen as as act of selfishness. At the same time, the EU and others are expected to reward the occupants of the northern part of the island by moving to end their isolation.
Meanwhile, early yesterday in the port city of Limassol, a grenade was thrown at the residence of Mr Nicos Anastassiades, the leader of the right-wing Democratic Rally party.
There were no injuries and little damage.
Mr Anastassiades urged Greek Cypriots to vote Yes in the April 24th referendum on the island's reunification under the UN plan but 40 per cent of his party voted No.
Party members include extreme rightists from the disbanded EOKA-B organisation who oppose reunification and stirred up a nationalist backlash against the plan before the vote.