TThe recent developments of the Cyprus problem had been over the table today in a public hearing of the European Parliament. The deterioration of the negotiations after the last elections and the imminent disappearance of the Cypriot minority had dominated the discussion. 

Lothar Bisky, President of the group of GUE/NGL and of the Party of the European Left, showed to be perplex with the number of States that accept that these violations of the human rights occur in the European territory, that strongly defends the fundamental values in its charter: “The military occupation of a sovereign State is unacceptable and it cannot be ignored. We demand the end of this artificial and contra-productive situation that obstructs the development of Cyprus”.

The conclusions of the Security Council of 2009 pointed that a viable and fair solution under the UN framework is possible, taking into consideration the security and the recognition as principles to join the UE. But the negotiations had now been  interrupted. Although the Left supports the adhesion of Turkey, it also reveals firmness in relation to the adoption of the protocol of Ankara and to the recognition of the responsibility of the country in the Cypriote occupation.

By Turkish initiative, but also based in the international law, the obstacles brought by President Eroglu should come to an end. According to Andros Kyprianou, secretary general of AKEL party, the new President “intend that negotiations should be retaken, but from the beginning”, without having into account the developments attained in recent years and that were reiterated by the UN, on the basis of a unique citizenship. Eroglu speaks in two separate republics, putting backwards 80 meetings of negotiations between the parts. But this is not the solution for a small island with big problems: “The only solution is the unification and liberation of the country. We have to defend the respect for the human rights and our land as a whole. We cannot allow that it is divided in two states forgetting that its population has all the same origin. It is unacceptable to destroy a community and a culture in a XXI century Europe”, defended Izzet Izcan, secretary-general of the United Cyprus Party. 

Andros Kyprianou urged that Europe must help to solve the problem: “Turkey must combine acts with words and assume its duty in relation to Cyprus, the UN and the EU. We want a reality free of an occupying country and of the intervention of third countries.”