Cyprus Reunification Deal Pending: Interview

[Turk.]

Interview by Susanne Koelbl April 01, 2014 ? 11:17 AM
Negotiations to end the division of Cyprus have been ongoing for years. Now, Northern Cyprus Foreign Minister ?zdil Nami tells SPIEGEL that a deal is close. And he wants Germany to help with reunification.
SPIEGEL: You have recently been part of talks in the Chancellery in Berlin regarding the future of Cyprus. Why?

Nami: We have asked Germany for support for the process of reunification. Finally, the two parts of Cyprus -- the Greek south and the Turkish north -- are prepared for this step, after 40 years. It cannot be allowed to fail. It is an historic opportunity.

SPIEGEL: How can Germany help?

Nami: The Germans are strong in the European Union and specialists when it comes to reunification issues. We in Turkish Cyprus compare ourselves with poorer East Germany because we are not part of the EU like the southern part of the island and are only recognized by Turkey. Our university students, for example, are not allowed to take part in the Erasmus and Socrates programs, our businesspeople cannot engage in direct trade with EU countries and there are no direct flights from Europe to Northern Cyprus. There are 860,000 Greek Cypriots living in the southern part of the island and we 300,000 Turkish Cypriots in the north are far behind when it comes to development. We need a special program so that we can achieve EU standards.
Source

[theyarecomingforyou]

It would be great to see it happen, as the Turkish side has long struggled in comparison to the wealthier Greek side. The GDP per capita in Cyprus (Greek) is two-thirds higher than that of Northern Cyprus (Turkish). Cyprus receives about ?23bn each year from the EU and many other benefits, like the academic programmes mentioned. The EU offers a much better prospect to Northern Cyprus than Turkey does.