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Experts Discuss Demolishing of Lokmachi Wall Which Divided Cyprus Island - POLL

Politics Materials 7 April 2008 10:16 (UTC +04:00)
Experts Discuss Demolishing of Lokmachi Wall Which Divided Cyprus Island - POLL

Azerbaijan, Baku, 5 April/ corr. Trend R. Hafizoglu, E. Tanriverdiyeva/ The wall Lokhmaci, which has divided Cyprus into Turkish and Greek parts since 1974 was demolished on 3 April in line with the agreement of both sides. The experts answer the two following questions by Trend : What results can the unification of Cyprus have? Can the unification of the island assessed as a compromise of parties to each other?

Fahim Tashtekin, the expert of Turkish Radical newspaper and political scientist

Answer: The demolishing of wall which divided Cyprus into to parts is a step made to end tense relations between Turkey and Greece. In spite of Cyprus is of great strategic importance for both Greece and Turkey the parties should compromise each other to have good neighboring relations. The unification of Cyprus mainly serves the interests of the Turkish population of the island. Ethnic clashes are not ruled to take place in this regard.

Mahammad Fatih, the director of Turkish Vakithaber newspaper and political scientist

Answer: By demolishing the war which separated Cyprus, Greece and Turkey and making concessions to each other. Though the unification of the island makes it impossible to recognize the Turkish Cyprus any time soon, Turkey is not going to make big concessions in the status of Cyprus. The unification of the island most of all serves the interests of Turkish people of the island. Turkey can take advantage of unification of island to use Greek for its own interests. The short-term ethnic clashes may take place in the island.

Charley Charalabbous, the commentator of Ceprus weekly published in Cyprus and political expert

Answer: The unification of island is of strategic importance for both parties and both parties are making concessions to each other. The unification of Cyprus should be assessed as a beginning of bilateral cooperation between the sides. Not everybody is satisfied with island's unification and unfortunately, its unification will cause some problems as well.

Answer: Svante Cornel, the professor of John Hopkins university ( U.S.) and the director of Central Asia and Caucasus Studies Institute

Answer: The unification of Cyprus is a result of joint efforts. However, the unification of island can not be considered only as positive. I believe, the unification of the island will not affect the status of Turkish Republic of North Cyprus. The unification of island may cause some problems between the Turkish and Greece communities of the island. At present, the key problem confronting the parties is insuring social security of people who were displaced from their homes as a result of the war which is not easy at all.

Mehmet Ali Talat, the President of self-declared Turkish Republic of North Cyprus said in his interview with the Turkish Jumhuriyyet newspaper that the demolishing of Lokhmachi wall will contribute to the economic development of the region. "The demolishing of is not the solution of Cyprus problem. The relations between the sides after demolishing of Lokhmachi wall is of great significance," he said.

In 1974, Turkey divided the island into two parts after the military coup d'eta in Cyprus with the support of Athens and attributed it to the genocide against Turks. Though the Turkish part of Cyprus declared its independence in 1983, Turkish Republic of North Cyprus has been recognized by Turkey only.

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