The Cyprus problem has been with us for a long time – far too long It will not

“The Cyprus problem has been with us for a long time – far too long It will not be resolved overnight But today we have new hope.”Maureen Freely,Review, Front. UN-sponsored talks between the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, and his Greek Cypriot counterpart, Glafkos Clerides, are to be restarted in December over Cyprus.”A very hard [...]

“The Cyprus problem has been with us for a long time – far too long It will not be resolved overnight But today we have new hope.”Maureen Freely,Review, Front. UN-sponsored talks between the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, and his Greek Cypriot counterpart, Glafkos Clerides, are to be restarted in December over Cyprus.”A very hard road lies ahead,” Mr Clinton said on his way to Turkey. Elaborate preparations were made for the visit of Mr Clinton, his wife, Hillary, and daughter, Chelsea. Now Mr Clinton is changing his itinerary to include a visit to the new disaster area today, and promising to consider more US aid amid predictions this new quake could cost Turkey $10bn on top of the $12bn from the earthquake in August that killed at least 17,000.Yet, in spite of its grief, Turkey looks more likely than ever to fulfil its dream and be named as a candidate for EU membership next month.There are signs of a thaw at least over Cyprus, another key issue – besides human rights – which has kept Turkey off the list of candidates for Europe Union membership. “We must continue to fulfil the vision of a Europe undivided, democratic and in peace for the first time in history, anchored by a stable and prosperous Turkey.”
The American President promised to “work for a future in which Turkey continues to be an ally of America, a partner in the new Europe and reconciled with other nations in the region, especially our friends in Greece.”He also praised Turkey for its progress in improving its human rights record.

“There has been an impressive momentum in the last few years and I hope there will be continued progress, especially in the area of freedom of expression,” he said. But even as he began his visit, police were beating anti-American protesters, breaking up a peaceful demonstration in Ankara.Mr Clinton’s extended visit, which will culminate in a world summit in Istanbul, is intended as evidence of the importance America attaches to its alliance with Turkey.This should have been Turkey’s finest hour. “We have a chance to start a new century on higher ground,” Mr Clinton said at a ceremony to welcome him in Ankara. PRESIDENT Bill Clinton arrived in Turkey at its darkest hour yesterday, as rescuers began to give up hope of finding more survivors from Friday’s earthquake that killed at least 349. Mr Clinton came with a message of hope for Turkey’s future as the anchor of a peaceful Europe, and for a solution to one of the most intractable territorial problems in the world, the 1974 division of Cyprus. “Me, I haven’t slept since the earthquake.” For three nights, he has stayed awake over the two families’ fire Beside it lies a tiny pile of firewood, almost exhausted “That was all we could find,” said Mr Erdogan “When it is finished, I don’t know what we will do.”.

The only shelter they have is a plastic sheet stretched over the pathetic pile of belongings they rescued.”The children sleep under there at night,” said Mr Erdogan. So great is the danger of falling masonry that the police won’t even let people into this street, yet two families are camping here.Irfan Erdogan, his wife and two children are the other family. Like so many others here, he cannot afford to leave Bolu and risk their jobs.The little patch of grass where Mr Komecoglu pitched his tent is next to his damaged home. He and his family of four, including a 14-year-old, have been living in a tiny tent that he got from a friend But Mr Komecoglu cannot leave, he is a civil servant. The few who get those will at least be warm.Recep Komecoglu is sending his family away. Where the mountain road has collapsed they have built another In Bolu, soldiers were busy putting up insulated tents. Wasn’t the state helping him? “I’m 76 years old and I’m living in a flimsy tent with no heating.” He broke down in tears then, and hurried away to hide them.

His dignity was all that he had left.The Turkish authorities are not to blame this time. Turkey is facing a catastrophe on a scale that no country could cope with Civil and military teams are working round the clock. “Everybody in the town is outside,” he said, his face pale as he visited collapsed buildings “We need at least 10,000 tents, and we’ve only got 1,000. We’re working to get them here, but I don’t know how many are coming.”An old man came up, shouting angrily “Nobody has come to look after us,” he said.

There was no attempt to cover up the scale of the disaster this time. Seismologists are warning of new earthquakes all across this region.This is a cold region, much colder than the scene of August’s quake. Winter is setting in, and Bolu, perched on its mountain top, gets the worst winters of all.Nusnet Minoglu, the regional governor, held nothing back. I could die.”They called off the last search for survivors here yesterday The last four anyone had hope for were found dead For now, the bodies are still in the rubble. Rescuers said the collapsed building was too dangerous to get them out.The death toll here is 40 – terrible, but not as terrible as the hundreds in Duzce and Kaynasli.

Leave Your Response

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Categories

Next Article