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U.S. Policy Toward Cyprus After the Referenda

Remarks by Ambassador Michael Klosson
Rotary Clubs of north Cyprus in Nicosia and Kyrenia
Saray Hotel, Nicosia
May 27, 2004

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me to join you today.  It’s always a pleasure to speak to your two clubs. A special thanks to Mehmet Khader and Dervish Besemlar for your hospitality.

I will keep my remarks brief, but I do want to take advantage of this opportunity to explain to you, as business and community leaders, what the United States is doing to help Turkish Cypriots within the context of an eventual comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.  I would also be interested in hearing your thoughts as well.

First, let me reaffirm the U.S. commitment to a lasting and comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.  Secretary Powell made clear earlier this week that “we’re looking at ways we can move forward along the lines of the Kofi Annan plan, and we’re also examining areas where we can assist the Turkish Cypriots with their needs as well.” Measures that we and the EU are considering to ease Turkish-Cypriot isolation, while important and justified, will necessarily pale in comparison to the benefits of an overall solution.  A Cyprus settlement and the reunification of the island are the best way to end – once and for all – the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community, and to ensure all Cypriots -- Turkish and Greek Cypriots alike -- enjoy all the benefits arising from EU membership of a unified Cyprus.   By your vote April 24, you made clear you understand and support this.

Make no mistake -- the United States remains committed to the settlement put forward in the UN settlement Plan.  Mr. Talat and other Turkish Cypriot political leaders have also made clear that the future of Turkish-Cypriots is in Europe, and the Annan Plan is the vehicle that will take you there.  That also remains our goal, and we hope to see an evolution in Greek Cypriot attitudes toward the UN plan so reunification can be achieved. 

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s forthcoming report and discussion in the UN Security Council next month will provide indications of possible next steps.   We look forward to the report.  As has been the case all along, we will certainly support the UN Secretary General’s analysis of this most recent chapter in his Good Offices Mission and any recommendations he might make about the way forward.   

For the time being, however, Cyprus remains divided, even though Turkish Cypriots said “yes” this time to reunification and reconciliation.  Absent reconsideration by Greek Cypriots, there is no clear, realistic path to a settlement in the near term.  We had hoped for a “yes” by both sides so the international community could have facilitated diplomatically and financially implementation of an overall solution.

Unfortunately, that did not happen.  As was the case in the past, however, the side supporting the solution at hand deserves the support of the international community.  Given the results of April 24, we believe that it would be unfair if Turkish Cypriots did not receive international support for their “yes” and encouragement to stay “yes.”

Our focus now is on what we can do to ease the isolation of north Cyprus and create economic opportunities for Turkish Cypriots in order to strengthen the foundation for eventual reunification.  Narrowing the economic gap between north and south and bringing Turkish Cypriot laws and institutions in line with European norms will, in our view, advance the goal of a settlement.  There are, of course, understandable concerns in some quarters that such steps will further cement the separation of Greek and Turkish Cypriots.  We certainly hope that will not be the result.   We see this as a win-win approach – reducing economic disparities between the two sides will enhance, not reduce, the prospects of a successful settlement. We seek to reinforce, not detract from, Turkish Cypriot support of the Annan Plan.

The comprehensive, interagency policy review in Washington is ongoing, so I am not yet able to go into details.  It’s also important to recognize, as Mr. Talat has pointed out, that international efforts to ease isolation will not be accomplished in a matter of days or weeks.  The restrictions you face took hold over many years; it will take time to deal with them.  But we have begun.

Mr. Talat had a very successful visit to the United States earlier this month.  He held productive talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell as well as other Executive and Legislative Branch officials. 

I am also pleased to announce today our decision to ease some of the restrictions on travel by Turkish Cypriots.  In an effort to make travel from Cyprus to the United States more convenient for Turkish Cypriots, holders of north Cyprus passports are now eligible for consideration of a visa valid for up to two years.  Moreover, eligible Turkish Cypriot applicants will in many cases receive multiple entry visas.

Previously, applicants holding north Cyprus passports received a visa valid for a maximum period of six months, which was good for only two entries into the United States. This change in policy will benefit especially Turkish Cypriot students and give them more flexibility when traveling to regional destinations from the U.S., such as Mexico and Canada, thereby increasing their cultural and educational opportunities.

We will be taking further actions, and will announce them as decisions are made.

Let me add that the United States is not moving towards diplomatic recognition of the “TRNC.”  That is not in the cards. Those who desire this, and those who fear it, should understand it is not among the options we are considering at this time.  The Turkish Cypriots have made clear loudly and repeatedly that they see their future as part of Europe.  The only way to get there is with a solution – not a separation.  Our objective is to work in concert with the European Union to promote those prospects by easing the isolation of Turkish Cypriots. 

On the island, the way forward is to expand, not restrict, contact between the two communities.  The Turkish Cypriot decision to relax restrictions on crossing the Green Line just over one year ago has resulted in over two million crossings.  This week’s very welcomed removal of the passport requirement for EU citizens, including Greek Cypriots, is likely to increase crossings significantly.  These moves in the right direction, however, are just a beginning.  Everyone who is genuinely interested in promoting a comprehensive settlement has a stake in even greater contact, communication, reconciliation and cooperation.  Barriers built over many decades need to come down.  Confidence in a shared future needs to be strengthened.  People-to-people contact is the best way to build that trust.  As businessmen, I hope you will take the lead in seeking opportunities to do business with your Greek Cypriot counterparts across the Green Line.  We are ready to help where we can. 

While we are focused on measures to help the Turkish Cypriot community, we are not turning our back on decades of support for bicommunal programs.  We will continue to support organizing and funding bi-communal programs through UNOPS and other channels.  I am very proud of our ongoing programs in health, the arts, education and academic exchange, community development, infrastructure improvements and historical preservation. In a couple of weeks I will speak to the 30 Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot young adults who were selected to spend the summer together at American University in Washington, DC.  They will study leadership and work on community service projects in the local community as part of the Embassy’s Bi-communal Support Program. What a tremendous experience that is going to be! I am looking forward to meeting these young people, because they represent the future of this island, and because it reassures me that there are plenty of young Cypriots who understand they have a role to play in reunification and in fostering a solution.

This is an exciting time in north Cyprus. You have energetic leadership who carry with them a real vision about how to make your community a better place.  Your “yes” to the Annan Plan has impressed the international community.  I encourage you, as community leaders, to take advantage of these burgeoning opportunities to promote growth and development here, to get involved, to shape your cities and towns into the places you want them to be.

I assure you that the United States is here for the long haul.  Despite our disappointment at the failure of the referendum on the Greek Cypriot side, we have not abandoned our support for a settlement.  With good will, leadership and vision on both sides, this long-sought-after goal can be attained.

Thank you very much.