Everyone is well aware of the recent history and political developments of the island of Cyprus. However, despite all the efforts of the international community, a solution could not be found to the conflict that arose between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

The recently proposed Foundation Agreement in the "Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem", known as the Annan Plan, was submitted to separate and simultaneous referanda on 24 April 2004. The Turkish Cypriot people approved the plan by an overwhelming 65% of the votes clearly demonstrating once again that their expressed will is in favour of a comprehensive settlement based on bi-zonality and the political equality of the two peoples, whereas 76% of the Greek Cypriot people rejected the plan.

Following the referandum, the Cyprus issue has taken a new turn and a new state of affairs has emerged. The Turkish Cypriots, who expressed willingness for a comprehensive settlement, were denied accession for EU and continue to be subjected to illegal restrictions and embargoes, whereas the Greek Cypriot side, which rejected a power-sharing arrangement with the Turkish Cypriots was allowed to join the EU on 1 May 2004, and continue to enjoy the benefits of the title of the "Republic of Cyprus", which they usurped though force of arms in December 1963.

Furthermore, the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus has been trying to deny the Turkish Cypriot people any opportunity to engage in political, economic, social and sporting contacts with the rest of the world, aiming to bring about their political, economic, social and cultural collapse.

The all-encompassing Greek Cypriot embargoes range from denying the Turkish Cypriot people the right of representation in international fora; to preventing or restricting their travel abroad and their communication with the outside world; to curtailing trade and tourism between the TRNC and the outside world, and to hampering all cultural and sporting relations of the Turkish Cypriot people with other countries.

These illegal and immoral embargoes imposed are in blatant violation of the UN Charter and in contravention of the relevant international human rights instruments. The inhuman embargoes imposed, do not only violate the basic human rights of the Turkish Cypriots but also the basic international human rights of the tourists and cannot be justified by mere political explanations.

Furthermore, the Greek Cypriot administration is trying to discourage EU citizens who have chosen to enter the island through the seaports and airports of the TRNC and want to cross to south Cyprus. Contrary to the propaganda efforts of the Greek Cypriot administration, according to the "Green Line Regulation" recently adopted by the European Commission, all EU citizens entering Cyprus via Larnaka (South Cyprus) or Ercan (TRNC) airports can stay both in the South and in the North, both as individuals and as groups.

As a result of the unwarranted Greek Cypriot claim that all ports in the TRNC are "illegal", the international community is restricting not only the freedom of movement of the Turkish Cypriots but also of visitors who would like to come to the TRNC. The requirement of a stopover of aircrafts in Turkey increases the time and cost of the flight, causes undue inconvenience to the visitors and discourages them from visiting the TRNC. In this context, air and sea transportation to ports and airports in North Cyprus should continue without any hindrance so that the Turkish Cypriots could develop their potential in tourism and trade.

Apart from these, the Greek Cypriot administration is even blocking the passage of international aid designed to develop the Turkish Cypriot economy or even to promote the protection and preservation of antiquities in Northern Cyprus which are not only the monuments of Cyprus but the whole of humanity over the world.

After the referendum the UN, many world leaders and international personalities applauded the Turkish Cypriots’ affirmative vote and called for an end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots which has been imposed upon them for over four decades. The UN Secretary-General H.E. Kofi Annan expressed his views regarding the results of the referendum in his report on his mission of good offices in Cyprus in the following fashion: "the Turkish Cypriot vote has undone any rationale for pressuring and isolating them. I would hope that the members of the Council can give a strong lead to all states to cooperate both bilaterally and in international bodies, to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and impeding their development".

Similarly, on 26 April 2004, the EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunther Verhaugen has stated that "..., now we have to end the isolation of the North. The Commission is ready to take various measures for that aim".

H.E. Mr. Tony Blair during his visit to Turkey on 18 May 2004 stated that "I think it is important, as I indicated to the Prime Minister, that we end the isolation of Northern Cyprus... We made it clear we must act now to end the isolation of Northern Cyprus. That means lifting the embargoes in respect to trade, in respect to air travel... There was a very clear commitment given to people if they supported the Annan Plan. They have supported it and we must see that commitments through".

Unfortunately, although 5 months have passed since the referendum, there have been no concrete developments in the status of the Turkish Cypriots and they have been left to their own devices as none of the promises made by the international community have so far been kept.

In light of the above, it is significant to acknowledge that the continued recognition of a purely Greek Cypriot regime as if it were the sole representative of the whole of Cyprus only encourages Greek Cypriot intransigence. It is obvious that the Greek Cypriot side shall have no real incentive for a political solution unless it is given the clear message that the present stalemate brought about by their rejection of the UN plan does not give them the right to represent, act on behalf or isolate the Turkish Cypriots any further.

The Turkish Cypriot people only ask for their decades old unfair punishment to come to an end. The time has come for the international community, in general, and the EU and the UK, in particular, to take measures to redress the unjust situation arising from the fact that the Greek Cypriot side which rejected the UN plan has become an EU member, while the Turkish Cypriot side, which has approved the plan has not only remained outside the EU but still continues to be subjected to illegal restrictions and embargoes.

It is high time that the inhuman embargoes imposed upon the Turkish Cypriot people are lifted outright and the undeniable fact that the so called "Government of the Republic of Cyprus" does not and has no right to represent the Turkish Cypriot people is acknowledged.

The Greek Cypriot side, which astonishingly managed to convince the world of its political will for a solution and portrayed the Turkish Cypriot and Turkey as intransigent through the long process of negotiations, has in fact impeded a solution.

Nevertheless, the EU has accepted the Greek Cypriot side as a full member of the Union and has, so far, failed to take any concrete steps to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side. The problems encountered during the preparation process of the joint EU-OIC meeting and its last minute cancellation was only one example of Greek Cypriot isolation policies towards Turkish Cypriots and shows how the EU was hostage to the Greek Cypriot side’s demands. There are also other existing problems between the EU and the Turkish Cypriot side; the two regulations, the Free Trade Regulation and Financial Assistance Regulation prepared after the referendum were also subjected to Greek Cypriot obstacles, and the Green Line Regulation was prevented from being implemented. The Turkish Cypriot people expect that the international community, in general, and the EU, in particular, will respond to the call of the UN Secretary General to lift the senseless restrictions and promote relations in all fields and in particular direct transport, trade, tourism, culture, information, investment and sports contact.