Washington Times, DC
Feb 17 2005
Embassy Row
Northern Cyprus aid
Americans of Greek and Armenian heritage are trying to block the Bush
administration from sending a business delegation to Northern Cyprus
to reward ethnic Turks for supporting a U.N. plan to reunify the
island.
Greek-Cypriot voters upset Washington as well as the European Union
by rejecting the plan last year, while the isolated residents of the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) strongly supported the
measure proposed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The TRNC is recognized only by Turkey, while the Greek-Cypriot
administration is the internationally recognized government of
Cyprus. The Greek-Cypriot side was admitted last year to the European
Union.
Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee
of America, denounced the planned visit to Northern Cyprus by U.S.
business executives.
The United States also announced a $30.5 million aid package to
Northern Cyprus, while the European Unions is discussing opening
direct flights and ending the isolation of the TRNC.
Mr. Hamparian, in a memo to his organization, complained that the
Bush administration’s moves would amount to a “legitimization of the
[Turkish] occupation forces.” He added that he was responding to
alarm raised by Greek-American organizations that had contacted him.
Turkey moved troops into Northern Cyprus in 1974 after clashes
between the two ethnic communities. Greek-Cypriots call the troops
occupiers, while Turkish-Cypriots see them as a protection force.
Armenians have their own problems with Turkey, which they denounce
for refusing to recognize claims of genocide against Armenians in
1915. Turks say the modern Turkish state has no responsibility for
actions committed under the Ottoman Empire.
In Cyprus last week, U.S. Ambassador Michael Klosson announced the
aid package, saying the money will help close the “economic gap”
between the wealthier Greek-Cypriots and their poorer Turkish
neighbors.
“We also plan to focus significant attention on improving the
banking, financial, regulatory and other realities businesses face,”
Mr. Klosson said. “We plan to work with the banks and business
community to help ensure that credit is readily available to small
and medium Turkish-Cypriot businesses.”
Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos summoned Mr. Klosson to protest
the U.S. plans.
Mr. Klosson said later that Mr. Papadopoulos threatened “to boycott
American products and exclude U.S. companies from public tenders” on
the Greek-Cypriot side of the island.