Ten NGOs call on Mr Annan to start negotiations on the Cyprus issue

Ten non-governmental organizations led by the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce have sent a message to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to express opposition to attempts aimed at taking the Cyprus issue out of the United Nations platform and into the European Union framework.

In their letter, the NGO’s thanked Mr. Annan for his contributions towards a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Pointing to the disappointment created at international level by the rejection of the UN peace plan in 2004, the NGO’s said it was unjust for the Greek Cypriot south Cyprus to join the European Union despite having rejected the Annan Plan.

They reminded that in spite of the collapse of all attempts for a solution, South Cyprus was admitted as a member of the European Union, while the Turkish Cypriot People was left out and is still suffering under an unjustified international isolation, despite having approved the international peace plan.

Calling on the UN Secretary General to launch a new initiative to help end the unjustified isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people, they called on Mr. Annan to restart comprehensive negotiations on the Cyprus issue.

The NGO’s expressed support for a solution based on the existing UN parameters which, they say, envisage a federal solution based on a bi-zonal and bi-communal order respectful to the political equality of the two sides and which also maintains Turkey’s position as a guarantor power.

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