Sunday Mail
Some EU states seek tougher steps against Turkey
"SOME EUROPEAN Union countries are seeking tougher sanctions on Turkey than the partial freeze in membership talks proposed by the European Commission over its failure to open ports to ships from Cyprus, diplomats say." read more»

Cyprus Weekly
Who's blackmailing whom?
"The only blackmail in force in connection with Cyprus is none other than the continuing illegal Turkish occupation of the north and its linkage to Turkey's insistence for the acceptance of the illegal breakaway state and the even more heinous crime of the ethnic cleansing of the Greek Cypriot population of the occupied north as a preconditions for a Cyprus settlement." read more»

Cyprus Weekly
Cyprus ready to block Ankara EU talks
Tassos not satisfied with Commission’s stance towards Turkey
"CYPRUS moved yesterday towards blocking Turkey’s EU accession course, with President Papadopoulos saying that he was not satisfied with the European Commission’s recommendations over Ankara’s refusal to meet its obligations." read more»

Cyprus Weekly
Stop entry talks with Turkey
Top EU parliamentarians reaction to EU Commission's soft treatment of Turkey over its Cyprus obligations
"THE EU must suspend accession negotiations with Turkey if it continues to refuse to open its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic, the Chairman of the EU Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok, and other leading MEPs said this week." read more»

Associated Press
Pope, Orthodox patriarch worship together
"Pope Benedict XVI, left, and Bartholomew I, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church, prayed together at the patriarchal church of St. George. Turkey doesn't recognize the global stature of Bartholomew and considers him only the leader of the 2,000-member Greek Orthodox community in Turkey. Turkey also has imposed restrictions on efforts to expand orthodox churches and reopen a seminary, which was closed more than 20 years ago after Turkey blocked the acceptance of new students." read more»

BBC
Cyprus 'may veto' EU-Turkey talks
"Cyprus has threatened to block Turkey's EU membership talks unless Ankara lifts its trade restrictions on Nicosia.The European Commission on Wednesday recommended that some elements of the talks with Turkey should be frozen until Ankara opens its ports to Cyprus." read more»

BBC
Christian divisions cloud Pope's talks
"One subject which may well come up during Benedict XVI's trip to Turkey is the allegation that Christians are not treated fairly. In the 1920s, when the Turkish Republic was established on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, there were 200,000 Orthodox ethnic Greeks in Istanbul. Today there are 5000." read more»

Cyprus Mail
Finns give up bid to avert Turkey EU crisis
"Ankara has failed to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic, an obligation it has under the EU customs union protocol." read more»

Media watch

BBC
Merkel warns Turkey over Cyprus
"German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that Turkey's EU bid will be in serious trouble if Ankara does not open its ports and airports to Cyprus." read more»

Cyprus News Agency
French journalists – court
"Two French journalists, kidnapped and detained yesterday by the so-called Turkish Cypriot military authorities in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus, are due to appear before a "military court" today. read more." read more»

Resolution 541
"Concerned at the declaration by the Turkish Cypriot authorities… which purports to create an independent state in northern Cyprus…"
Read more UN resolutions on Cyprus»

Lobby for Cyprus Special newsletter Autumn 2006

Contents Is Turkey ready to join the European Union? Other obstacles to Turkish membership of the EU Quotations DOWNLOAD PDF (280k)» Acrobat Reader or similar program required

Media watch

Sunday Mail
Government’s main aim to see Turkey comply with obligations
"PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday the government’s main objective was to see Turkey comply with its EU obligations to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic. He said this must not be linked with other developments on the Cyprus issue" read more»

Cyprus Weekly
Finland cancels Cyprus-Turkey meeting
"…the [Cyprus] President said: "For the meeting to take place, Turkey must first state that it agrees to the return of the fenced off part of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants". He stressed that according to UN resolutions, Turkey was held responsible for Famagusta and Varosha." read more»

Cyprus Weekly
‘Common ground’ with UK on Finnish plan
""We have made clear to Turkey and I have said many times previously in public that we expect Turkey to accept its obligations under European law," said Hoon" [Britain’s Minister for Europe] read more»

BBC
EU alarmed by Turkey reform woes
"The report also highlights serious concerns about allegations of torture and ill-treatment, public statements by senior military figures, the rights of Kurds, women, religious groups and trade unions… a partial freeze of talks may become inevitable by the end of the year anyway, as Turkey shows no sign of keeping its promise to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus." read more»

BBC
Turkish PM regrets EU 'obstacles'
"…a draft European Commission report, due to be released next week raises fresh doubts about Turkey's bid to join the EU… It urges Turkey to guarantee greater freedom of expression and human rights… The report also says Ankara has made no progress towards normalising relations with EU member Cyprus. Turkey has not yet opened its air and sea ports to Cyprus, the north of which remains under Turkish occupation… a partial freeze of talks may become inevitable by the end of the year anyway, as Turkey shows no sign of keeping its promise over Cyprus." read more»

Cyprus Mail
Greece checking reports that missing used as human guinea pigs
"ATHENS is also evaluating reports that Greek and Greek Cypriot missing from 1974 ended up as guinea pigs in Turkish biochemical experiments, Greece’s Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said yesterday." read more»

Cyprus Mail
‘Shocking reports that missing were used as guinea pigs by Turkey’
"AN AMERICAN defence and strategic policy report saying some of the 1974 missing Greek Cypriots ended up as guinea pigs in Turkish biochemical experiments was described as "shocking" yesterday by Foreign Minister George Lillikas." read more»

Cyprus Mail
‘Turkey to blame for Isaak’s death’
"ECHR allows wrongful death case to go ahead. Turkey bears the responsibility for the August 1996 killing of Greek Cypriot demonstrator Tassos Isaak, in a case brought by his relatives which the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found admissible, lawyers for the family said yesterday." read more»

Cyprus News Agency
Cyprus to look into report about missing persons
"The Cypriot government is taking into serious consideration the content of a US report on the issue of missing persons." read more»

Cyprus Weekly
New UN chief raises Cypriot hopes though his first statements
"The Greek Cypriots are among those people who remain deeply dismayed and disillusioned by the actions of the previous Secretary General, Kofi Annan, who tried to solve the Cyprus problem through the controversial plan bearing his name. The plan violated the basic principles on which the United Nations is founded and was overwhelmingly rejected by the Greek Cypriots in a referendum." read more»

Cyprus Weekly
Kyrenia Bishop protests over conversion  of church to dance school
"In his letter to the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Council of Europe and Unesco, the Kyrenia Bishop said the continuing unacceptable treatment of religious and cultural heritage in the occupied part of Cyprus has exceeded all boundaries of shamelessness." read more»

BBC
Kurdish mayors on trial in Turkey
"I find it rather shocking... that because you write a letter to me, you are being accused of violating the law" Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Danish PM read more»

To Telegraph
Orams-Cherie Blair case – Your article of today "Couple win right to keep Cyprus holiday home"
The English Court judgment established in very clear terms the following… Greek Cypriot owners of property in the occupied area such as Mr Apostolides are still the legitimate owners of that land and therefore persons who purport to buy or occupy land belonging to Greek Cypriots are trespassers and will be treated as such and are liable to be sued. read more»

Cyprus News Agency
Papadopoulos–EU–Turkey
"Finland accepts Cyprus' positions, which have been adopted by the EU, that Turkey's obligations towards the EU do not depend on any developments regarding the Cyprus problem." read more»

BBC
Turkey abuse claims 'on the rise'
"An EU delegation on a fact-finding mission to Turkey has reported a "worrying" increase in allegations of torture and abuse in the country." read more»

Cyprus Weekly
No room for military doctrines, Tassos tells Ankara
"…a problem of invasion and continuing occupation, by Turkish military forces, of 37% of the territory of my country for more than thirty-two years now. The Cyprus problem essentially epitomises the inability of the international community to redress this set of massive violations of international legality" read more»

Orams v Apostolides case
To begin with it should be noted that the Appeal was not against the ruling on the substantive issues, which have been left untouched by the High Court decision. The High Court confirmed that the Orams were trespassers on the land of Mr Apostolides and that he, and certainly not they, remained the legal owners of the property. This is extremely significant since it is the first time that an English Court has recognised the illegality of so called property sales of Greek Cypriot property to foreign nationals in the occupied area of Cyprus. read more>

Agency France Presse
Sarkozy calls for suspension of EU member talks for Turkey
"French Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy on Friday called for the suspension of EU membership talks with Turkey unless Ankara changes its stance on Cyprus." read more>

Cyprus Mail
‘The reasoning of the judgement was flawed’
"the British High Court ruling did not in any way legalise the illegal purchase of Greek Cypriot property in the occupied areas. 'On the contrary, it certifies that the illegally occupied Greek Cypriot property belongs to its legitimate inhabitants and that any purchaser or exploiter of this property is violating another's ownership.'" read more>

Cyprus Weekly
Round one to the Orams
"[Turkish Cypriot newspaper] Afrika was more circumspect. "Plunder and do not be afraid," the daily said, calling the high court ruling "good news for everyone who plunders Greek Cypriot properties…" read more>

Cyprus Weekly
Court ruling not end of the road
"the ruling recognizes the illegal nature of transactions involving Greek Cypriot property in the north…" read more>

Cyprus Weekly
EU denounces Turkey
"TURKEY'S fresh refusal to allow Cypriot ships and aircraft to use its ports and airports was roundly denounced by top EU officials and ministers" read more>

Cyprus Weekly
Turkey must normalise relations with Cyprus – Dutch Foreign Minister
"If Turkey wants to continue its EU accession negotiations, it must normalise relations with Cyprus, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said during a visit to the island." read more>

Cyprus Weekly
Danish Prime Minister issues blunt warning to Turkey
"DANISH Prime Minister Anders Rasmussen warns that Turkey's failure to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes will harm its European Union accession progress." read more>

Cyprus News Agency
Cyprus–Orams
"The Cypriot government has underlined that Greek Cypriots remain the owners of their land in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus and that those buying property not belonging to them are acting illegally." read more>

Cyprus Mail
Greek Cypriot journalists boycott north in protest at arrests
"…journalists had the right under the UN charter to carry out their work unhindered. Since June, a number of Greek Cypriot journalists have been arrested in the north."
read more>

BBC
Cyprus slams Turkish F1 'trick'
"…Talat is neither a citizen nor an official of Turkey, the organising country, to be invited to present the Formula One winner's trophy"
read more>

Cyprus Weekly
Shouts by the burglar to scare the landlord
"It is both a pity and a shame that these Security Council resolutions and Rights Court judgements remain unimplemented all these years with the major world powers choosing to ignore them so as not to upset Turkey, a valuable strategic and trade partner for some of them"
read more>

Cyprus Mail
US moots plan to avoid Turkey accession crisis
"Nicosia remains adamant in its position that Turkey should meet fully the obligations and commitments it undertook towards the EU—including the opening of its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic-- and rejects the idea of tradeoffs on the Cyprus issue"
read more>

Xinhua
Cyprus government accuses Turkish Cypriot side of arresting news men
"The Cyprus government on Monday accused Turkish Cypriot authorities of illegally arresting earlier in the day two representatives of the Cypriot press who went to the occupied town of Famagusta to cover a story on the abduction of a Greek Cypriot man by four Turks".
read more>

"Was Cyprus ever Greek?… British Tory papers pretend that Cyprus was never part of Greece… the islanders have been predominantly Greek-speaking for over 2,500 years. Cyprus was Greek before England was English.
The Educational Commentary on Current Affairs, Issued by the Daily Worker in association with the Marx Memorial Library, 26 September 1955
read more>

Vigil for Cyprus
Thursday 20 July 2006 at 3pm-6pm, Downing Street (on Whitehall)
Let Tony Blair know you are disappointed with his policies on Cyprus
Join us in calling for the reunification of Cyprus and an end to the continued violation of the human rights of the people of Cyprus by Turkey.
read more>

Rally for Cyprus

Speakers: British parliamentarians, Pefkios Georgiades, Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus

Lobby for Cyprus SUPER DRAW 2006

1st prize £1,200 travel voucher to spend on a holiday of your choice 2nd prize Apple video iPod £10 / book of ten tickets. Draw to be held on 21 July 2006. For further info or to order tickets phone +44 (0)20 8888 2556 or e-mail admin@lobbyforcyprus.org All profits go to the Lobby for Cyprus enlightenment campaign

US
"The Greek people are a difficult if not impossible people to tame, and for this reason we must strike deep into their cultural roots: perhaps then we can force them to conform. I mean, of course, to strike at their language, their religion, their cultural and historical reserves, so that we can neutralise their ability to develop, to distinguish themselves or to prevail, thereby removing them as an obstacle to our strategically vital plans in the Balkans, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.”
Henry Kissinger, reportedly in 1994

UK
"It is important that we should avoid any suggestion that in favouring the geographical separation of the two communities as the most viable solution of the Cyprus problem, we are working for the partition of the island. We should use the term ‘bi-regional federation’."
Foreign Office memorandum, 16 August 1974

Cyprus Weekly
Welcome action by EU parliament on cultural heritage
THE European Parliament this week took a long-overdue step by denouncing Turkey's deliberate destruction of the Christian cultural heritage in the Turkish-occupied north of the island.
read more>

Cyprus Weekly
TC architect charged with building on refugee land
A TURKISH Cypriot architect has been charged in connection with illegal building on Greek Cypriot owned land in the occupied north.
read more>

BBC
Rare meeting for Cyprus leaders
The President of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, has met Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat for the first time in two years.
read more>

Guardian
Turkey told EU talks will halt unless Cyprus deal is agreed
In a sign that Turkey's 40-year European dream is in danger of being derailed, the EU's incoming presidency told Ankara that it would trigger a crisis this autumn if it failed to open its ports and airports to Cyprus.
read more>