Post by depletedreasons on Feb 3, 2008 5:24:32 GMT -5
Schroeder encourages direct flights to Turkish Cyprus
Former German Chancellor Schroeder (L) visits the KKTC at the invitation of Prime Minister Soyer (R).
There is no problem in arranging direct flights between Germany and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said yesterday upon his arrival in northern Cyprus for a two-day visit at the invitation of Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, amid vocal expressions of concern and disappointment by Greek Cypriot politicians.
Europe needed unification, not a divided Cyprus, Schroeder said, while voicing pleasure at being on the island upon his arrival at the KKTC's Ercan Airport on board a private plane.
He said he traveled to Nicosia from Istanbul because he had stopped in Istanbul to pick up a friend and added that there was no problem in arranging direct flights between Germany and the Ercan Airport in his opinion, the Anatolia news agency reported. Schroeder yesterday held talks with KKTC President Mehmet Ali Talat as well as with Soyer. He is expected to hold a joint press conference with Soyer today ahead of his departure from the island.
Unlike his conservative successor, the current chancellor, Angela Merkel, Social Democrat Schroeder has been a firm supporter of Turkey's bid to become a full member of the EU.
Cyprus has been divided between a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish north since 1974, when Turkey militarily intervened after an abortive Athens-backed coup by supporters of union with Greece. In simultaneous referenda in 2004, a UN reunification plan was rejected by Greek Cypriot voters and accepted by Turkish Cypriots.
Turkey has consistently called for steps to end the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots after they voted for the UN plan to reunite the island in 2004, but despite pledges, particularly those clear ones by the EU, there has been no significant progress since then.
In earlier remarks, Schroeder had stated that the EU had made a mistake by not resolving the Cyprus issue before admitting Greek Cyprus to the bloc.
Earlier this week, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos described Schroeder's visit as "a very sad development."
"Mr. Schroeder is a private citizen now and I am sad that as a private citizen he continues to have the same feelings towards Turkey in general and the Turkish Cypriots that he had before," Papadopoulos was quoted by Greek Cypriot media as saying.
"I can by no means understand his sadness. I came here upon an invitation," Schroeder was quoted as saying yesterday by Anatolia when he was reminded of Papadopoulos' remarks.
Papadopoulos, who is seeking a second five-year term in presidential elections scheduled for Feb. 17, was not alone in his feelings of "sadness," as his main rival, Demetris Christofias, the leader of Greek Cyprus' communist Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), has also expressed "sadness," over the visit earlier this week. "It is a worrying message which should lead us to be more alert," Christofias was quoted as saying by the Greek Cypriot media.
www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=133104
Former German Chancellor Schroeder (L) visits the KKTC at the invitation of Prime Minister Soyer (R).
There is no problem in arranging direct flights between Germany and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said yesterday upon his arrival in northern Cyprus for a two-day visit at the invitation of Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, amid vocal expressions of concern and disappointment by Greek Cypriot politicians.
Europe needed unification, not a divided Cyprus, Schroeder said, while voicing pleasure at being on the island upon his arrival at the KKTC's Ercan Airport on board a private plane.
He said he traveled to Nicosia from Istanbul because he had stopped in Istanbul to pick up a friend and added that there was no problem in arranging direct flights between Germany and the Ercan Airport in his opinion, the Anatolia news agency reported. Schroeder yesterday held talks with KKTC President Mehmet Ali Talat as well as with Soyer. He is expected to hold a joint press conference with Soyer today ahead of his departure from the island.
Unlike his conservative successor, the current chancellor, Angela Merkel, Social Democrat Schroeder has been a firm supporter of Turkey's bid to become a full member of the EU.
Cyprus has been divided between a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish north since 1974, when Turkey militarily intervened after an abortive Athens-backed coup by supporters of union with Greece. In simultaneous referenda in 2004, a UN reunification plan was rejected by Greek Cypriot voters and accepted by Turkish Cypriots.
Turkey has consistently called for steps to end the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots after they voted for the UN plan to reunite the island in 2004, but despite pledges, particularly those clear ones by the EU, there has been no significant progress since then.
In earlier remarks, Schroeder had stated that the EU had made a mistake by not resolving the Cyprus issue before admitting Greek Cyprus to the bloc.
Earlier this week, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos described Schroeder's visit as "a very sad development."
"Mr. Schroeder is a private citizen now and I am sad that as a private citizen he continues to have the same feelings towards Turkey in general and the Turkish Cypriots that he had before," Papadopoulos was quoted by Greek Cypriot media as saying.
"I can by no means understand his sadness. I came here upon an invitation," Schroeder was quoted as saying yesterday by Anatolia when he was reminded of Papadopoulos' remarks.
Papadopoulos, who is seeking a second five-year term in presidential elections scheduled for Feb. 17, was not alone in his feelings of "sadness," as his main rival, Demetris Christofias, the leader of Greek Cyprus' communist Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), has also expressed "sadness," over the visit earlier this week. "It is a worrying message which should lead us to be more alert," Christofias was quoted as saying by the Greek Cypriot media.
www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=133104