COMMENTARY: Patriarch Kirill's Call for a United Cyprus Requires Action

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was "right on the money" last week when he told reporters that the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the Russian nation, view Cyprus as a single nation. The Russian Patriarch also said that Cyprus must be reunified and that it is "deplorable" that the international community has not resolved the division of the island which began over 35 years ago.

The year was 1974 when a totalitarian junta ruling Greece at that time sent troops to Cyprus -- an independent nation -- in an attempt to take control of it and make it a part of Greece. The troops from Greece failed to accomplish their objective.

Meanwhile, Turkey took advantage of this fiasco and turmoil by sending thousands of its own troops, as well as military equipment, to Cyprus, and these troops took control of the northern third of the island. Incredible as it may seem, Turkey has maintained the illegal control of northern Cyprus to the present day.

Patriarch Kirill called this situation in Cyprus "deplorable," because it is hard to believe that it has not been resolved in over 35 years.

One can only believe that the international community -- including the United Nations -- has not considered Turkey's illegal control of northern Cyprus as a top priority that needs to be resolved. Thus, the UN has not taken any serious action to resolve it.

Perhaps, if the UN imposed sanctions against Turkey, this action could have an impact in convincing Turkey to relinquish its illegal control of northern Cyprus.

Another action that may convince Turkey to leave northern Cyprus is for the United States to stop giving Turkey billions of dollars in foreign aid each year, until its departure. But don't hold your breath waiting for either of these two options to be implemented, because they haven't occurred for over three decades.

The most likely reason for Turkey to relinquish its control of northern Cyprus is Turkey's insatiable desire to become a member of the European Union (EU). The fact is that Turkey has been trying diligently -- but unsuccessfully -- to join the EU for several years. The EU will not allow allow Turkey to join it until Turkey gives up its illegal control of northern Cyprus.

So the ultimatum for Turkey is this: Give up your illegal control of northern Cyprus, or you will not be allowed to join the European Union.

It's that simple!