In response to Turkey’s military aggression, the Republic of Cyprus introduced a number of defensive measures to safeguard its independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and economy. One of these measures was the declaration of all seaports and airports in the Turkish occupied area of the Republic as illegal. Such measures became necessary, because the Government was not able to exercise effective control in the areas of Cyprus under Turkish military control. Under international law, the Republic of Cyprus is the only legal and recognised authority with sole responsibility for air and sea travel, trade, security, safety, and similar issues within its sovereign territory. Similarly, under international law, the regime established by Turkey in occupied Cyprus is illegal and, therefore, all its professed institutions, decisions, and documents have no political or legal validity. As European Courts and the UN Security Council have affirmed, the regime has no legal status in the international community. The European Court of Human Rights has declared this illegal regime as Turkey’s“subordinate local administration”in occupied Cyprus (See Appendix 2). The record clearly shows that the military occupation by Turkey has victimised, albeit in different ways, both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island. Turkey’s continuing occupation is directly responsible for whatever sense of “isolation” Turkish Cypriots may have experienced. In fact, Turkey prevents Turkish Cypriots from realising their full potential and deprives them of substantial benefits and opportunities they are entitled to as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and the EU. The Government of Cyprus has always been concerned about the economic situation of Turkish Cypriots. It has been better able to provide services to Turkish Cypriots since the partial lifting in 2003 of illegal restrictions, imposed by the Turkish military on the free movement of people across the 1974 UN ceasefire line that extends across the island. Turkish Cypriots have since been able to work, in increasing numbers, in the government-controlled areas earning income estimated at more than 273 million euro so far and to enjoy an expanded range of benefits, including free medical care (See Appendix 1). Reviving the peace process 2005–2006 Even though the 2002–2004 UN effort did not resolve the Cyprus problem, the referendum was not the end of the road. In order to revive the peace process, President Tassos Papadopoulos exchanged views with the Secretary-General in New York on 16 September 2005 concerning the preparation of a renewed effort on Cyprus by the UN. The Secretary-General also met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, on 31 October. In his report to the Security Council on 20 November 2005, the The Cyprus Question| A brief Introduction 17
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