EU moves to end north’s isolation

NICOSIA (CYPRUS MAIL) – In Brussels Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen said the political damage from Greek Cypriot rejection of the Annan plan was “large”.

“There is now a shadow over Cyprus` (EU) membership,” he said.

“My impression is there won’t be any new initiative and I see no more possibilities for negotiations and no one who could lead any negotiations and, above, all no other possible compromise.”

Speaking earlier to the Cyprus Mail on the imminent measures for Turkish Cypriots, Van der Meer said a meeting of the general council would take place in Luxembourg tomorrow to discuss the issues.

“We have been working very, very hard with the experts in the UN process to fulfil a solution scenario,” he said. “Now that we are on a no solution track, we have to put legal implements in place, particularly as regards the status of the Green Line.”

Van de Meer said the EU expected measures from the Cyprus government to begin tomorrow in order to have everything relating to the border in place by next Saturday, Cyprus’ official EU accession date.

“This is a very important fact,” he said, referring to the status of the Green Line.

“The Commission has made a proposal, which has to be adopted before May 1 and hopefully this will be adopted on Monday during a general affairs council in Luxembourg,” he said. “This is a very important step that legally secures all the instruments are in place under the accession treaty.”

As far as the Turkish Cypriots are concerned, he EU is about to make good on its promise not to leave them out in the cold for having delivered a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum.

“We expect first thing on Monday to have measures to help Turkish Cypriots,” said Van der Meer, but he refused to elaborate.

However, the EU has made it clear on numerous occasions that the assistance would focus on financial aid and the lifting of trade embargoes.
Reports in Politis yesterday said that the Council of General Affairs would look at lifting the embargoes and the opening of ports and airports and the export of Turkish Cypriot products through the Chamber of Commerce in the north.

The lifting of air embargoes will be a heavy blow to Greek Cypriot tourism on the eve of the summer season.

The EU is also looking at handing over to the Turkish Cypriots the 259 million euros earmarked for a settlement, most of which would have gone to the north if both sides had said ‘yes’.

According to Politis, the government is aware of what Europe is planning and has asked Greece to veto the move. However, Athens is understood to have said Cyprus was now on its own and the furthest it would go on the issue would be to seek a postponement until Cyprus itself joined next week and could attempt, if it wished, to use its own veto.

Van der Meer refused to speculate on how the government would be treated within Europe for the foreseeable future. “It’s difficult to say,” he said.
“There is a big sentiment of disappointment. We are happy that Cyprus is joining the European Union. We wanted a reunited Cyprus to enter the EU.

This will not happen and there is a sense of disappointment… big disappointment in that respect because we firmly believe that the Annan plan is viable and was the best solution and the best way forward.”

Verhguen, when asked if there was a possibility of the Turkish Cypriots receiving international recognition, said it would not be likely. He said this would require a UN resolution “and Russia would probably veto any such attempt,” he said referring to Moscow’s veto on Wednesday of a resolution to give additional security under the Annan plan, and the speculation that the government had used its good relations with Russia to pull it off.