settlement of the Cyprus problem. The EU responded to this unilateral declaration by calling on Turkey to comply with its obligations and has reiterated that position on several occasions to no avail. The months and years ahead will provide a test not only of Turkey’s intentions, but also of the EU’s ability to uphold fundamental principles while pursuing further enlargement. Turkey still refuses access to its ports, airports, and air corridors to aircraft and ships from the Republic of Cyprus. This awkward and anomalous situation, where an EU candidate state refuses to recognize one of the EU member states which will be voting on Turkey’s accession prospects needs to be rectified. The EU in December 2006 sanctioned Turkey by imposing a partial freeze on its accession talks for its non-compliance with respect to its obligations toward Cyprus. It was decided to suspend work in eight of 35 policy areas (Chapters) into which accession negotiations are divided. It was also agreed that negotiations on issues not affected by this freeze should not be concluded until Turkey complies with its obligation to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus. Turkey’s negative stance towards the Republic of Cyprus is also reflected in the European Commission’s 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 etc. Progress Reports on Turkey. Moreover, the 2021 Report points out the following: “The June 2021 European Council reiterated its full commitment to the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. It underlined the importance of the status of Varosha and called for full respect of UN Security Council Resolutions, in particular Resolutions 550, 789 and 1251. Following the change in leadership of the Turkish Cypriot Community in December 2020, the United Nations senior official for Cyprus held a series of meetings with representatives of the two Cypriot communities. For the first time in almost four years, new informal talks took place on the future of the island of Cyprus between the two Cypriot communities and the island’s three Guarantor Powers, the UK, Turkey and Greece in Geneva in April 2021. The informal meeting did not pave the way for the resumption of formal negotiations. The European Council of June 2021 regretted this development. Turkey continued to challenge the status of the fenced-off city of Varosha. Several representatives of the Turkish government, including the President and the Vice President visited Varosha, promising financial support to the development of the area. The The Cyprus Question| A brief Introduction 28
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzU4MTg0