Editing Cyprus problem (section)

===The Cyprus dispute after the referendum===
{{Update|section|date=October 2016}}
In 2004, the [[Turkish Cypriots|Turkish Cypriot community]] was awarded "observer status" in the [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe]] (PACE), as part of the Cypriot delegation. Since then, two Turkish Cypriot representatives of [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe|PACE]] have been elected in the Assembly of [[Northern Cyprus]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=4PwmeRG9QsUC James Ker-Lindsay (UN SG's Former Special Representative for Cyprus)] The Foreign Policy of Counter Secession: Preventing the Recognition of Contested States, p.149</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20140226103031/http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action;jsessionid=516B38E2EAFF2073525EEB08F7B53903?newsId=105715 Today's Zaman] 2005–2007: CTP Özdil Nami; UBP Huseyin Ozgurgun</ref>

On 1 May 2004, a week after the [[referendum]], Cyprus joined the [[European Union]]. Under the terms of accession the whole island is considered to be a member of the European Union. However, the terms of the ''[[Acquis|acquis communautaire]]'', the EU's body of laws, have been suspended in [[Northern Cyprus]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cyprus – EU member country profile {{!}} European Union |url=https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/country-profiles/cyprus_en |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=european-union.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Pro-TRNC demonstration in Sarayönü North Nicosia.jpg|thumb|[[Sarayönü Square|Atatürk Square]], North Nicosia in 2006]]
After the referendum, in June 2004, the Turkish Cypriot community, despite the objection of the Cypriot government, had its designation at the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]], of which it has been an observer since 1979, changed to the "[[Turkish Cypriot State]]".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=4PwmeRG9QsUC James Ker-Lindsay (UN SG's Former Special Representative for Cyprus)] The Foreign Policy of Counter Secession: Preventing the Recognition of Contested States, p.141: "...&nbsp;despite strong objections from Nicosia, this designation was changed to the 'Turkish Cypriot State{{'"}}</ref>

Despite initial hopes that a new process to modify the rejected plan would start by autumn, most of the rest of 2004 was taken up with discussions over a proposal by the European Union to open up direct trade with the Turkish Cypriots and provide €259,000,000 in funds to help them upgrade their infrastructure. This provoked considerable debate. The Greek Cypriots stated that there can be no direct trade via ports and airports in Northern Cyprus as these are unrecognised and said that Turkish Cypriots should use Greek Cypriot facilities in the south are they are internationally recognised. This was rejected by the Turkish Cypriots as insincere and mocking by Papadopoulos and his government. At the same time, attention turned to the question of the start of Turkey's future membership of the European Union. At a [[European Council]] held on 17 December 2004, and despite earlier Greek Cypriot threats to impose a veto, Turkey was granted a start date for formal membership talks on condition that it signed a protocol extending the customs union to the new entrants to the EU, including Cyprus. Assuming this was done, formal membership talks would begin on 3 October 2005.

Following the defeat of the UN plan in the referendum there has been no attempt to restart negotiations between the two sides. While both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to continuing efforts to reach an agreement, the UN Secretary-General has not been willing to restart the process until he can be sure that any new negotiations will lead to a comprehensive settlement based on the plan he put forward in 2004. To this end, he asked the Greek Cypriots to present a written list of the changes they would like to see made to the agreement. This was rejected by President [[Tassos Papadopoulos]] on the grounds that no side should be expected to present their demands in advance of negotiations. However, it appears as though the Greek Cypriots would be prepared to present their concerns orally. Another Greek Cypriot concern centres on the procedural process for new talks. Mr. Papadopoulos said that he would not accept arbitration or timetables for discussions. The UN fears that this would lead to another open-ended process that could drag on indefinitely.

In October 2012, [[Northern Cyprus]] became an "observer member" country of the [[Economic Cooperation Organization]] under the name "[[Turkish Cypriot State]]".

According to Stratis Efthymiou, even though defeated, the referendum had a formative impact on the Greek Cypriot community;<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Efthymiou|first=Stratis|title=Nationalism, Militarism and Masculinity in Post-Conflict Cyprus|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2019|isbn=978-3-030-14702-0|location=Cham}}</ref> Greek Cypriots felt that reunification is a touchable reality, and this undermined the nationalist struggle and ideas of military defence. According to Efthymiou, since the referendum, the phenomenon of [[draft dodging]] has become prevalent and the defence budget has turned into a trivial amount.<ref name=":0" />