Greek Cypriots announce goodwill gestures

The proposed measures, which require approval from the Turkish side to go into force, include a military pullback by Greek Cypriot and Turkish forces from the U.N.-guarded Green Line that has divided the island for three decades and halting army maneuvers along the line in an attempt to boost mutual confidence.

They also include the opening of additional crossings between the Greek and Turkish zones of the island and disengaging forces from a U.N.-guarded line within the medieval walls of Nicosia, the capital city that is divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Disengagement was also proposed in the southeastern Famagusta region.

The package includes measures dealing with the issue of how to market Turkish Cypriot goods in the European Union. Accordingly, the Greek Cypriots offered to open the Turkish Cypriot port of Famagusta to foreign trade if the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) agreed to cede control of the deserted Turkish town of Varosha to the Greek Cypriot administration.

The goodwill package proposed that the port of Famagusta be handed over to EU control and that a joint Turkish and Greek Cypriot committee be established to run the port.

"It is our conviction that these initiatives will form the basis of fostering trust and security among Greek and Turkish Cypriots," Greek Cypriot government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said.

Chrysostomides also said the government had submitted to the EU Commission a request for the return of a fenced area of Famagusta and for necessary access to the lawful property owners and residents of the town.

Turkish side cool
Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials did not immediately comment on the Greek Cypriot move but they were hardly excited by the proposals, saying there were not many new elements and that the measures were still being examined.

The measures came after the Greek Cypriots, in an April 24 referendum, rejected a U.N. plan aimed at reunification of the island ahead of its accession into the EU. The plan was approved by the Turkish side but overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots.

The "no" vote by the Greek Cypriots meant EU membership benefits were not applicable to the Turkish Cypriots and that economic sanctions which have crippled the Turkish Cypriot economy for decades remained in place.

The EU Commission has proposed a package of measures aimed at ending the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots through providing financial assistance and granting trade benefits. These measures, which still await the approval of the EU ministers, have drawn criticism from the Greek Cypriots, who have vowed to challenge the proposed trade measures at the European Court of Justice.

Greek Cypriot officials say direct trade between the EU and Turkish Cyprus resembles the EU’s trade arrangements with third countries.

Under the EU proposals, Turkish Cypriot ports, closed for decades, will be opened for trade but there was no reference to the issue of direct links to Turkish Cyprus because direct flights to Turkish Cypriot airports would require approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).