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EU entry has bittersweet taste for split Cypriots

NICOSIA: Greek Cypriots danced in the streets at midnight on Saturday to usher the divided island into the European Union, but it was a bittersweet moment for the Turkish Cypriot north, left behind despite voting for peace. Thousands roared approval as the star-studded blue EU flag was raised in a central square of Nicosia, a capital divided between its Greek and Turkish Cypriot inhabitants with United Nations peacekeepers wedged down the middle. There were no celebrations in northern Cyprus, where hopes of joining the wealthy club were dashed when Greek Cypriots last week overwhelmingly rejected a UN peace plan designed to reunite the island in time for EU accession. Turkish Cypriots approved it, but it is they who will be effectively left out, in a legal limbo. Greek Cypriots run the internationally recognised state, but effective EU membership will apply only to the south, stopping at the island’s 180 km-long ceasefire line. Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, who led the campaign for a “no” to the UN plan, voiced regret at the consequences. “Our great joy is overshadowed by our grief because we could not celebrate this moment together with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and our great disappointment for the absence of a solution to our national problem,” he told assembled crowds. For Greek Cypriots, EU accession was a rare moment for celebration after a 20th century history marred by violence. But for Turkish Cypriots there was little to celebrate, and for many Greek Cypriots it seemed a half-hearted rejoicing. Only a few Turkish Cypriots crossed into the south and checkpoints linking the two sides were quiet. “I came for the party, but (the situation is) very disappointing. We all wanted to go into Europe too. We lost this chance and there may not be another,” said Turkish Cypriot Ahmet Zidat, 22, a student. The missed opportunity for reunification was not lost on Greek Cypriots either. —Reuters

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