References to the Cyprus problem are included in the secret telegrams of American diplomats from embassies of the United States around the world. They have now been released from the site WikiLeaks which is a major blow to U.S. diplomacy.
The second package of telegrams includes documents on the Cyprus issue with secret and top secret information. They reveal that Turkey sought greater involvement from the United States in Cyprus.
According to documents, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu said that Turkey’s accession to the European Union is hampered by objections to conceal political motives of several member states, notably France, Austria and Cyprus. He strongly critisized the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy. He accused the country of changing the criteria.
The extract below is from a cable which mentions Cyprus. It follows a meeting between MFA Undersecretary Sinirlioglu and U.S. Secretary of State Burns held on February 18th, 2010.
— EXTRACT—
Sinirlioglu said Turkey’s EU accession is being obstructed by the politically motivated objections of several member states, notably France, Austria and Cyprus. He reserved special criticism for President Sarkozy.
He accused France of changing the rules mid-game. He contended French opposition to Turkey’s membership is “deepening the cultural divide” between Christian Europe and the Muslim world: “A wider audience is watching this.”
10. (C) He regretted perceived Greek Cypriot complacency regarding the island’s reunification talks: “EU membership makes them invulnerable.” Greek Cypriots, he said, want the world to forget the progress achieved by the Annan Plan in 2004. They pretend relations between the island’s two communities are an internal affair, even though, by treaty, it’s been an international issue for 50 years. Talat’s cross-voting proposal, Sinirlioglu continued, should have been a breakthrough, but the Greek Cypriots failed to react.
Downer is frustrated, Sinirlioglu alleged, and so are the Turkish Cypriots. He implied the island’s Turkish community would register its frustration by voting out Talat as TRNC “president” in April. He renewed Turkey’s appeal for higher profile direct USG involvement in the negotiations.
11. (C) Sinirlioglu welcomed Greek PM Papandeou’s belated response to Erdogan’s October 30th letter seeking a frank new discussion of the two neighbor’s several long-running disputes. He conceded Papandreou’s delay is understandable in light of his likely preoccupation with Greece’s acute financial crisis. Based on Papandreou’s response, Sinirlioglu said, Turkey expects to begin new talks with Greece soon.
—EXTRACT ENDS—
A batch of secret cables, thought to number over 1,500 sent from the U.S. Nicosia Embassy is set to be released in the coming days.
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