EU hoodwinked by Greek Cypriots
The rejection by the Greek Cypriot side is a major setback for EU and UN policy.
It is obvious that the Greek Cypriot government acted with insincerity and hoodwinked the EU Commission and misled the European Council in 1999 into not insisting on a solution to the reunification issue as a prerequisite to the signing of their treaty of accession to the EU.
The commission regrettably agreed to conclude accession negotiations on the basis that the Greek Cypriot authorities would do all that was necessary to encourage a positive outcome to the reunification issue.
The accession of Greek Cyprus to the EU on May 1 reinforces the permanent partition of the island. The Turkish Cypriot community which agreed to the reunification plan is left isolated on the divided island.
There is no incentive for the Greek Cypriots ever to agree to fair terms for unification now that they are becoming part of the EU on May 1. There is also a danger that this Greek Cypriot government, in an enlarged union, will become the mouthpiece for French opposition to the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey.
Indeed Greek Cyprus, with its newly acquired EU sovereign and equal rights, could abuse their power of veto on any such accession approval by seeking the imposition of harsher terms on the Turkish Cypriots for any future island reunification plan.
Enlargement Commissioner Verheugen has already admitted the feeling of having been cheated by the Greek Cypriots during the accession negotiations.
The accession of Greek Cyprus to the EU is irreversible, the rancour of the other members states will be suppressed for the duration of the tarnished enlargement celebrations, and there certainly will not be a party for Turkish delights.
But the citizens of the enlarged union still have the power to encourage a solution by electing not to holiday on the Greek part of Cyprus.
Denis Ó Buachalla,
46A, Antrobus Road,
London W4.
