Cicek stated that occupied Cyprus has become an open prison
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (11.10.11) reports that Cemil Cicek, the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly stated that “TRNC” as he describes the breakaway regime in occupied Cyprus has become an open prison.

Ignoring the 37-year long illegal Turkish occupation of Cyprus, Cicek made these statements in a meeting he held with Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats of Europe (ALDE) who is visiting Ankara.

Cicek alleged that despite the fact that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side supported a permanent solution for the Cyprus problem and “southern Cyprus”, as he called the Republic of Cyprus, rejected the solution plan, it is the Turkish side that it is asked to “pay the bill”. He also reiterated the Turkish allegation that EU should admit it made a mistake regarding Cyprus becoming member of the EU.

He called on the European Union to exert pressure to the Greek Cypriot side for the solution of the Cyprus problem and stated that if the EU exerted on the Greek Cypriots the one fourth of the pressure that exerts to Turkey, the Cyprus problem would have been solved.

“TRNC has become an open prison”, he stated and claimed that the EU punishes the side that is in favour of the solution. He alleged that the support offered to the Greek Cypriots is the reason for which the “TRNC”, as he called occupied Cyprus, faces isolation.

He also argued that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to support a just and permanent solution.

Reporting on the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet (10.10.11) writes that Verhofstadt warned that the Cyprus conflict remained a major stumbling block for Turkey’s EU bid, suggesting that a solution could become easier if the settlement is sought not under U.N. auspices but within the EU. He added that 2012 would be critical for the ultimate fate of Turkey’s membership talks.

Moreover, reporting on the issue Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.10.11) reports that during the meeting, Cicek said Turkey had made many legal and structural reforms in its drive to become an EU member, adding, however, the country had still certain setbacks such as its constitution.

Cicek said the Union was “doing injustice” by imposing strict visa procedures for Turkey which is a member of the Customs Union and has been negotiating with the EU for full membership.