Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (09.04.15) reports that Cemil Cicek, Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), has described the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus as “a half-open prison”. In statements during a meeting in Ankara with the President of the European Parliament (EP), Martin Schultz, Cicek reiterated the Turkish allegation that the EU has not lifted the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots in spite of the promises it had given in 2004 and claimed: “Our expectation from you is primarily to lift the isolations and exert an effort that will encourage the Greek Cypriots to negotiate”.
Cicek argued that the Cyprus problem has not been solved for 50 years and this situation negatively influences the Turkish-EU relations. He alleged that Turkey and the “TRNC”, as he described the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, had supported the solution plan in 2004, and that the problem became “unsolvable” with the accession of the Greek Cypriot side, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, in the EU.
Cicek alleged that what he called as “steps taken for unilateral use of the resources in Eastern Mediterranean” have shown a new security problem and added that the Turkish side expects a “more just and objective approach” by the EU. He claimed: “Because of the isolation policies, northern Cyprus has been turned into a half-open prison. Those who said no to peace are being rewarded and those who said yes are being punished. This distorted situation should be overcome the soonest”.
Referring to Turkey’s EU accession course, Cicek said that uncertainty is not a pleasant situation and added: “There is no chapter to be negotiated. The opened chapters have no criteria for being closed. There are also no opening criteria for the chapters to be opened. […] We are burning fuel waiting at the red light for 52 years expecting to become a member