Since the Kofi Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus question was rejected by the Greek Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots, under the name of Republic of Cyprus joined the EU, the problem of Cyprus seems to have been put on a back-burner by the international community. Following is a note explaining the current picture for Cyprus:

The plight of the Turkish Cypriots still continues despite the fact that they have shown goodwill for the solution of the problem of Cyprus, within the framework of the Annan Plan. In the face of this situation, the international community has to recognize that a new state of affairs has been created (clausa rebus sic stantibus) by the 24 APRIL 2004 referenda as a result of which the international community has every reason to end the international isolation of Noerthern Cyprus.

On the EU side, while the European Council in its regulation (EC) No 866/2004 of 29 April 2004 observed that pending a settlement, the application of the acquis upon accession has been suspended pursuant to Article1(1) of Protocol 10, in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control and it has adopted a Regulation (8208/14) intended to facilitate trade and other links within the island, it did not so far adopt any measures that would end the isolation of Turks in Northern Cyprus;

European Commissioner Gunther Verhaugen on 27 October 2004 at the European Parliament expressed regret that no measures have yet been adopted in the EU to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, and appealed to do the necessary;

On the UN side, the Security Council President on 29.4.2004 had indicated that as a result of the outcome of the referenda held in Cyprus on 24 April 2004, an extraordinary and historic opportunity to resolve the Cyprus issue had been missed, and that the Security Council looked forward to the Secretary General’s forthcoming report, in response to which the Council would need to give careful consideration to the implications of the outcome of the referenda;

Then, the Report of the Secretary General came on 28 May 2004 and indicated that “the Turkish Cypriot vote had undone any rationale for pressuring and isolating them. We would hope that the members of the Council can give a strong lead to all states to cooperate both bilaterally and in international bodies, to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots…”

Furthermore the resolution 1376(2004) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe said  that “the international community, and in particular the Council of Europe and the European Union, cannot ignore or betray the expressed desire of a majority of Turkish Cypriots for greater openness and should take rapid and appropriate steps to encourage it” and clearly asks “that the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots must cease.”

The UN Security Council has to follow up on the above-mentioned Press Statement of its President and give careful consideration to the implications of the outcome of the referenda as foreseen in the Report of the Secretary General, i.e. ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots;

The European Union has to take the necessary measures to enable the Turkish Cypriots to have unimpeded contacts with the outside world through its ports, airports, etc. and to have unimpeded trade relations with the member countries of the EU and third countries