Date: 10.11.2005 The inevitable outcome of the Greek Cypriots uncompromising attitude towards finding a fair and lasting peace for the problem between the Turkish and the Greek Cypriots is now emerging. The expected outcome for the Turkish Cypriots is the resumption of an international dialogue between other states and nations. “The process for finding a settlement between the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot People will accelerate after the time tabled resumption of Turkey's European membership negotiations on the 3rd of October 2005”. This was a statement I made in the October issue of the Property North Cyprus magazine. In the conclusion of this article I stated that in order to achieve a settlement in Cyprus, the European Union, the United States and the member states of the Security Council as well as other countries would put pressure on the Greek Cypriots to accept the United Nations Annan plan and to come to the negotiating table and that if the Greeks failed to do this then the international community would resume establishing political, economic and social links with the Turkish Cypriots. It is worth mentioning once again that the Turkish Cypriots have already accepted the United Nations Annan peace plan with a 65% YES vote in the referendum held on the 24th of April 2004, whilst the Greek Cypriots rejected it with a 75% NO vote. Following this referendum there was an increase in international activity and dialogue between the Turkish Cypriots and the international community. The Turkish Cypriot President Mr Mehmetali Talat paid a number of visits to Brussels, where he met with European Union officials. However recently, this political dialogue involving Turkish Cypriot officials was then reduced to a minimum. This was because, during the period leading up towards the Turkish resumption of European Membership negotiations on the 3rd of October 2005, neither Turkey nor the European member states or the United States wanted to rock the boat, in that no one wanted to anger the Greek Cypriots or Greece who were already in the European Union and have the power of veto. Now in inviting the Turkish Cypriot President Mehmetali Talat to America the signs and signal given by the United States are clear in that international dialogue with the Turkish Cypriots will accelerate With the counter declaration made by the European Union on the 3rd of October 2005 for Turkey to normalize their relationship with the Greek Cypriots and to recognize the Cyprus Republic during Turkey's lengthy negotiations for E.U membership, Turkey's declaration was that the Cyprus problem must be solved on the bases of the Annan plan through negotiations held by the United Nations. The European Union in the same counter declaration equally, and if not more importantly stressed that the Cyprus problem must be solved on the bases of the Annan Plan through the negotiations held by the United Nations. This is an important acknowledgement by the European Union that the Turkish Cypriots are right and that they are politically equal partners of the Cyprus Republic. With regard to the European Union's demand for Turkey to recognize the Cyprus Republic, it is quite right for Turkey to say to the European Union that since they accept that there is a problem which needs to be settled through negotiations held by the United Nations and therefore Turkey will recognize the Cyprus Republic after the Cyprus problem has been settled and a new Government has been formed jointly by the Turkish and Greek Cypriots in Cyprus. In order to achieve this goal political activities are now gaining momentum. As in everything else the United States again is taking the lead for solving the Cyprus problem and that in order for the Cyprus problem to be solved it is time for someone to say to the Greek Cypriots that, “you are not the sole owners of the Cyprus Republic and you also do not represent the Turkish Cypriots as the Turkish Cypriots are represented by their own democratically elected political leaders”. That is what the United States is now doing. The invitation extended by the Secretary of State for the United States, Condoleezza Rise to President Mehmetali Talat on the 28th of October is clearly saying to the Greek Cypriots and to the other nations that, if the Greek Cypriots do not come to the negotiation table with genuine intentions to solve the Cyprus problem, America will further its political, economic and social relationship with the Turkish Cypriots. Although, at the present time, the invitation has been addressed as “to The Turkish Leader”, nevertheless it is the recognition that, the Turkish Cypriots themselves have got separate political leadership. It is expected that a second important invitation will soon be extended to the Turkish Cypriot President Mehmetali Talat and that this will be from the British Government. It is also expected that, political, economic and social contacts between the Turkish Cypriots and the European Union will resume in the near future. After the 24th April referendum held in Cyprus, the European Union on the 26th of April passed numerous resolutions for the lifting of all restrictions and isolations on the Turkish Cypriots and establishing direct trade links. Up until now, the European Union have not been able to honour these decisions due to Greek Cypriot blockage within the union. But the unreasonable attitude of the Greek Cypriots in the European Union will not and can not prevail forever. The unjust demands of the Greeks are creating uneasiness within the European Union .Its member states will not accept to be blackmailed by the Greek Cypriots forever. The E.U must realize that the wellbeing of the Turkish Cypriots is also their responsibility and it is a shame for the European Union to continue to keep the Turkish Cypriots in isolation. The Turkish Cypriots are also the Citizens of the European Union. How can the European Union continue to deny them their political, economic and social rights? How can they continue this discrimination of the Turkish Cypriots? The European Union in their counter declaration also made another announcement and recommendation, which was that, before the British presidency ends at the end of 2005, this isolation of the Turkish Cypriots must be lifted. The British nation and government have an added responsibility for ending the sufferings of the Turkish Cypriots, as it was the British Government, as one of the guarantors of Cyprus, who helped in the formation of the Cyprus Republic in 1960 handing over independence to both communities, and it was the Greek Cypriots who wrecked it. Despite all the bitterness and suffering, the Turkish Cypriots are willing and ready to share the rights and opportunities of the island and to come to an agreement to bring a lasting peace and prosperity to the island. I sincerely hope that, the Greek Cypriots want the same. When the Cyprus problem is finally settled, not only will it help Greece and Turkey to cement a strong friendship it will also help the establishment of greater stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and will create peace and harmony in Cyprus and in the European Union. Arif Tahir Erisen Practicing Advocate in Northern Cyprus.0044 392 366 8338 Email: arifterisen@superonline.com