Frank and Joan's news for 02 December 2006 in Northern Cyprus

Frank and Joan's Adventures in Northern Cyprus

Our adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....

Some interesting times around the Turkish path to EU membership. The Turkish foreign minister has expressed his extreme annoyance at the possibility that Greek Cyprus will use it's veto to block the accession talks. Talk about the tail wagging the dog. How come such a small and relativly new member of the EU can block accession talks just by simply using it's veto.

At the same time as this discussion, a Greek MEP caused uproar and gained widespread support by calling on the Greek Cypriots to help end the isolation of Northern Cyprus. Apparantly in a heated debate in the European Parliament this week, Mr Beglitis received support from most of the MEPs present, including those from Greece, backing the Turkish Cypriot case for e

nding political and trade embargoes against Northern Cyprus. Apparantly another MEP said that the Greek Cypriot side, which undeservedly became an EU member, is preventing progress. This ability must be taken away from them he said, the Greek Cypriots are failing to make even a gesture in the right direction.

Are things finally hotting up and is Jack Straws statement, that the Greek Cypriots should never been awarded membership whilst the island remains divided, is proving to be understood by many other EU members.

Another incident in the border issue this week and the matter of property purchase here in the North. Two British passengers on a Cyprus Airways flight in to Larnaca where held by police, on landing, for 5 hours, after being shopped by one of the stewardesses on the flight. Luckily for these guys the apartments they have bought are built on land which has been in Turkish Cyriot ownership for more than 100 years. Just think of the consequences of chatting up a stewardess if the land situation had been different, 7 years imprisonment.

CTA have made an application for direct flights from UK to Ercan and it would seem that British civil aviation officials are considering this seriously. May be if they succeed they will consider giving me back my free ticket as a form of celebration. I understand that there is some very top level discussions going on at this time and the outcome if successful will be interesting.