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On May 7, an ATAA delegation
visited the Deputy Assistant Secretary of US State
Department, Ambassador Lynn Pascoe.
ATAA President Mr. Ercument Kilic, ATAA President-elect
Mr. Vural Cengiz, ATAA Vice-president Ms. Oya Bain, ATAA
Component Association MATA President Mr. Orhan Suleiman,
TUSIAD Washington Representative Mr. Abdullah Akyuz, and
ATAA Member Dr. Ayse Soyer attended the meeting which
took place at the State Department.
The issues brought to Mr. Pasco's attention were that
the Turkish Cypriots had come through with large numbers
by saying 'yes', and that they had shown their goodwill
to see the island reunite despite the fact that they
would have been the ones being required to relocate in
large numbers during the reunification process. In
addition, considering the pain and the suffrage on the
part of the Turkish-Cypriots prior to 1974, and the
total environment of peace enjoyed by them since then,
their courageous approach made the yes vote even more
meaningful. Therefore the ATAA delegation brought
forward the following matters of concern to the Under
Secretary's attention:
ATAA delegation pointed out that the Turkish-Cypriots
have shown their goodwill by voting yes to the Annan
Plan in large numbers in order to reunite Cyprus even
though they would be required to relocate in large
numbers during the reunification process. Turkish
Cypriots have been living in total peace since 1974.
Their courageous approach made the yes vote even more
meaningful when one considers the pain and the suffering
of the Turkish-Cypriots prior to 1974.
The economic embargo to which the North has been
subjected needs to be reconsidered by both the United
States and Europeans, and steps need to be taken in the
right direction for the immediate lifting of the trade
barriers to bring an end to the economic hardship
unfairly shouldered by the Turkish-Cypriots. The direct
flight restrictions from other part of the world to the
North need to be lifted. There is an unequal treatment
of the North and the South in many areas by the Unites
States. While visas for up to 10 years are common for
the Greek-Cypriots, the Turkish-Cypriots may only
receive visas only up to 3-6 months. There is even an
unfair proportion of Fulbright Scholarship offered to
the Greek-Cypriots. These types of unequal treatment of
the North and the South need to be reconsidered. In
addition, the ATAA delegation desired a heightened level
of status brought to the American representative office
in TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus), as well
as a consideration given to raising the status of TRNC
in Washington, D.C. Also, despite fact that President
Rauf Denktas's recent approach to the referendum has not
appealed to a big proportion of the Turkish-Cypriots, he
ought to be recognized by the U.S. for his past
important contributions to the Turkish-Cypriots in the
North.
Mr. Pasco in his remarks stated that the Americans
forget that there was a pre-1974 era. There was history
before 1974. In other words the context within which the
Cyprus situation is evaluated must include the pre-1974
problems, and we are doing exactly that. After stating,
"It is useful that you Turkish-Americans show up here,"
with respect to ATAA concerns, he stated "We will try to
do most of what you ask: lessen the economic isolation
of the North. The current dilemma of the North has to be
recognized especially after the last vote. We have
proposed changes to our bosses in the State Department
to increase the trade, and the ability to move back and
forth in terms of the flight restrictions. However, we
will not be radical. This is a process that needs to
take place little by little. Be clear however, even
though we don't say it is forever, that we are not now
in a position to recognize the North. For those who sat
that the Annan Plan need not be resurrected, I say that
I give Annan Plan a lot of credit. May be not all of it
is agreeable to all but it can certainly be considered
as a good standard. I even think that the Greek Cypriots
perhaps need to be given a year to digest the membership
in EU for a while. They may look back to their no vote
in a year and say to themselves 'Our leaders said that
and say that there were security concerns, but that
wasn't true,' they just may need to be given a little
time to digest the situation."
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