European Parliament Seminar 'Giving Turkish Cypriots A Voice'

Speech delivered on Wed 16th May 2007

Cyprus became a Member of the European Union on May 1st 2004.

Greek Cypriots now enjoy the full fruits of citizenship

Yet, over three years later, Turkish Cypriots are citizens in name alone.

• They are isolated internationally

• blockaded financially

• and suffocated culturally

All despite assurances - made 2 days after the failure of the Annan Plan - that such isolation should not, and could not, be allowed to continue.

The EU has a moral and legal commitment to Turkish Cyprus stemming from the accession process which has not yet been met.

Nonetheless, thanks to the Austrian Presidency, some progress has now been made.

On 27th February the Council agreed to unlock 139 million euros in financial aid which is starting to trickle down - though its uses are tightly controlled.

The Green Line regulation has been implemented.

That leaves agreement on facilitated trade on the table in Council.

More than this, however, the EU needs to recommit to finding a lasting solution and reopening negotiations with the UN.

For legal barriers can be dismantled with the stroke of a pen, while mutual suspicions go far deeper.

We are here today to learn, from Turkish Cypriots themselves, where we have fallen short, where we have succeeded, and what more can be done to foster peace and reconciliation between the two communities.

Education, for example, is a basic and fundamental right for all those living in Europe.

Yet at present young Turkish Cypriots are denied access to EU exchange programmes like ERASMUS, while their universities remain unaccredited by the Bologna Process.

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats is particularly pleased to welcome, in this regard, the presence of Turkish Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

His commitment to finding a peaceful, viable, and permanent solution to the island's divisions is well-known and no-one could be better placed to give us an assessment of the issues at stake.

We hope that he, alongside experts from the Turkish Cypriot community in fields ranging from education, to human rights and urban development, can shed valuable light on the current situation in the Northern Part of the island.

My thanks are also due to Karin Resetarits - the ALDE Member on the Parliament's High Level Contact Group for Turkish Cypriot Relations -

As well as Andrew Duff and Marios Matsakis for their hard work in organising this seminar.

All three have approached the Turkish Cypriot question with unstinting passion over the years - though at times, and in typically liberal style, from different and sometimes unconventional angles!

Mention must also be made of the contribution made by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, who are today's co-sponsors.

And the presence among us today of 40 young Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

We look forward to hearing their news and views.

Both communities, particularly their young people, must learn to negotiate, and work together.

For the next generation is the best hope for Cyprus.

Some may be tempted not to seek a united island, but to live together peacefully but separately, like the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

It does not overcome the fundamental challenge - building mutual respect and equality.

All citizens must enjoy the full rights and obligations arising from membership.

To that end I welcome the progress of the Committee on missing persons in closing the lists of those who disappeared in the fighting.

Further confidence boosting measures will be required from all sides if this progress is to be sustained.

That could mean increasing pressure to reduce the numbers of Turkish troops on Cypriot soil

Or, equally, Greek Cypriots promoting Turkish as an official language of the EU - even if its practical use were suspended.

The road to peace can seem long and winding

But it is never without hope.

Images of old adversaries Ian Paisley and Martin McGuiness sharing smiles and sandwiches at Stormont, after 600 years of sectarian violence in Ireland, go to prove just that.

I only hope that one day Messieurs Talat and Papadopoulos can reach out their hands and do the same.

As the Turkish proverb says: "Patience is bitter, but it bears sweet fruit."