And Don't Forget Cyprus

Turkish army chief says troops will stay on island despite peace deal

Turkey’s armed forces chief said yesterday that some 40,000 Turkish troops will remain on Cyprus despite a new peace deal between Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot leaders. “There is no such thing as pulling troops out tomorrow if there is a peace deal today,” said Yasar Buyukanit, wrapping up a four-day visit to the island’s Turkish-occupied north. “The army needs to observe and be fully convinced on how safe Turkish Cypriots are,” he said, according to Agence France-Presse.

Pay attention to this one. This is more obscene than FYROM's position. To summarize:

Cyprus is now a member of the EU. Turkey desperately wants to join. How do you join a Union of states when you are illegally occupying a state that is already a member?

How do you expect the Greek Cypriots to sign off on the continuation of the occupation by forces that murdered at least 4000 out of its tiny population of 500,000 in 1974? Yes, there were hundreads of Turkish Cypriots who died along with hundreds of Greek Cypriots in inter communal violence in the 60s and 70s that DID LAST TOO LONG and both sides were to blame. But Ankara's solution of murdering 4000 Greeks was beyond barbaric.

A solution to the division of Cyprus must end the occupation at the very least (there are other important issues-- like making sure the proposed constitution can actually work this time--the original 1960 constitution was a disaster born of misplaced compromise and insincerity) and at the very start. Turkish Cypriots are protected by the tens of thousands of Turkish military forces at a Turkish base at Mersin only 40 miles away -- 5 minutes by F-16! 40,000 illegal troops remaining on Cyprus betrays reason and decency. If the civilian leaders of Turkey are serious about its EU membership they must reign in the Generals on this issue too. I believe Turkey should join the EU --good for Turkey, Greece and the EU for many reasons, especialy because it should lead to the resolution of other dangerous disputes between Greece and Turkey --but not on the backs o the Greek Cypriots.