The last wall

Freedom of expression and of religion, civil rights, European integration, and “an exchange of opinions on the current situation of Cyprus and future prospects”, in view of the next European Council in December: these were the main issues on the agenda of the meetings of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos with Pope Benedict XVI and with Secretary of State Cardinal Tarciso Bertone, both on 10 November. The meeting with the Pope was reported by the President himself at a press conference, in the presence of Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas and the Ambassador of Cyprus to the Holy See Yiorgos Poulidis. Papadopoulos had presented the Pope with the gift of an icon of the Virgin and Child and an album of photos of occupied churches in the territories controlled by Turkish troops for some thirty years. No explicit reference was made to the Pope’s forthcoming journey to Turkey (28 November-1st December), but the Cypriot President declared that “Cyprus is not opposed in principle to the entry of Turkey into the European Union, so long as she respects the commitments she has made in conformity with the Copenhagen criteria”, fulfils all her duties to member states, “including their recognition”, and unconditionally accepts “the independence of Cyprus”. Papadopoulos repeated the aspiration to the reunification of the island, now partitioned into two halves: to the south, the Republic of Cyprus, independent since 1960 and a member state of the EU since 2004; to the north, since 1974, a self-proclaimed Turkish Republic, which is not recognized by the international community. A ‘WALL’ IN EUROPE. “Traversed by a barrier of cement and barbed wire”, Cyprus represents “the last wall in Europe”. Almost half of the Mediterranean island, with a predominant Greek-Cypriot population and a Turkish-Cypriot minority, is occupied – according to the figures given by Cypriot President PAPADOPOULOS to journalists – by “over 40,000” Turkish troops, who “destroy churches and monasteries, transforming them into mosques, hotels, military depots and stables”. Over 250 Christian churches have allegedly been profaned and at least 15,000 icons removed and deported. The desecration of the island’s cultural, religious and artistic heritage, the patrimony of humanity, has been repeatedly denounced, most recently by the European Parliament in July and included in the European Commission’s submissions to Turkey in recent days. “The Christian community of Cyprus has asked me to express its own anxiety to the Holy Father, whom I asked to use his authority wherever he can to intervene in support of peace and religious freedom”, added Papadopoulos, who brought to the Pope, “deeply saddened” by the situation, the greetings of His Beatitude Metropolitan Crysostomos. “The Holy See and the Republic of Cyprus are in agreement – said the Cypriot President – in deploring the profanation and looting [of churches]. The Orthodox Church of Cyprus is one of the most ancient Christian communities. And the Catholic Church too has a very ancient tradition in our country. Peace between peoples and religions is a fundamental principle of the EU and one of the central concerns of Pope Benedict XVI, who also gave me advice – continued Papadopoulos – on the need for reconciliation between the populations and the re-establishment of peace in this region of the world”. RIGHTS AND DUTIES . “We supported Turkey’s application for EU accession and are in favour of its integration into Europe – said the Cypriot President – on condition that she respects all her commitments”. Entry into the EU must be conditional on the satisfaction of the “essential” prerequisites by all states, in terms of human rights and civil liberties, and a customs and trade protocol, but these are criteria which Turkey has so far failed to meet, revealing “numerous problems and delays”, as pointed out in the last report of Brussels. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, in reply, a few days ago that “the question of Cyprus is political and does not represent a technical obligation”. “We hope – commented Papadopoulos – that Europe maintains a clear position, because the rules are equal for everyone”. If Turkey wishes to become a member state, she must “implement them fully”. The European Union is not “an à la carte menu”. “When a country signs an application for membership – continued Papadopoulos – it accepts a series of mandatory principles and conditions: it cannot pick and choose between them. Either Turkey respects them or she will not enter”. Freedom of worship is “one of the fundamental principles” that Turkey must “demonstrate she respects in practice, with particular reference to the question of Cyprus”. The Cypriot President then added: “As member states of the EU we have rights and duties. Our right is that all 25 European States agree on Turkey’s accession. If Turkey claims to change the rules, that would mean she does not really want to enter Europe. And we would then have the right to ask for the suspension of the rule of business as usual , i.e. that negotiations should continue undeterred, as has happened so far, with the granting of a series of deferments to Turkey to respect its accords”. In conclusion, President Papadopoulos said he had invited Benedict XVI to visit Cyprus, land of St. Barnabas and the island in which St. Paul was arrested. Without “making any precise commitment”, the Pope – he said – had expressed the “desire” to visit the island, “perhaps on the occasion of a journey to the Holy Land”.