Turkey refuses to open its airports, harbors

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Concern for the fate of Turkish Cypriots in the northern part of this Mediterranean island is likely to hamper a resumption of Turkey’s negotiations to join the European Union, diplomats say.

The Turkish government elected in July has reaffirmed Ankara’s refusal to open its airports and harbors to Greek-Cypriot traffic unless the European Union eases the economic isolation of the Turkish-Cypriot state, which is recognized only by Turkey.

Officials in Ankara accuse the European Union of bowing to Greek-Cypriot pressure in withholding funds allocated to northern Cyprus, where economic conditions lag far behind the prosperity of the Greek-Cypriot south. The funds were part of an agreement reached after Turkish Cypriots accepted a U.N. unification plan in a 2004 referendum that the Greek Cypriots rejected.

Shortly after the referendum, the Greek-Cypriot side joined the European Union while the isolation of the north continued.

Abdullah Gul, the newly elected Turkish president, and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan threw unconditional support behind the administration of the isolated state during a recent visit, undeterred by protests from the Greek-Cypriot authorities.

Explaining the refusal to open its waters and airways to the Greek Cypriots, Mr. Babacan said, “We will maintain our determined position on this issue. … No one should expect unilateral steps from Turkey.

“It is unfair to make extra demands from the party which favors a settlement while rewarding the party opposed to a settlement.”

Last year, the European Union froze Turkey’s membership negotiations on eight out of 35 crucial “policy areas.” Diplomats said the talks are unlikely to reopen without Turkish concessions on the airports and harbors issue.

Turkey has signed an international protocol that requires it to let Greek-Cypriot ships and aircraft use its facilities.

According to the European Union, Turkey also appears to be lagging on several human rights issues that have to be clarified before the talks can resume.

Contacts between the Cypriot protagonists, meanwhile, are virtually paralyzed. Tassos Papadopoulos, president of the Greek Cypriots, said the Turkish side is “exclusively responsible” for the deadlock. He accused the Turkish Cypriots of trying to “upgrade” the contacts and acting as a state rather than a minority.

Adding to the deadlock is the steady growth in the number of settlers from the Turkish mainland in the northern sector. According to the latest statistics, out of 256,000 people in Northern Cyprus, 132,000 — more than 50 percent — are from Turkey, changing the demographic structure of the island.