Halloumi and football: Difficult choices

Turkish Cypriot Economy, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Serdar Denkta? is fuming nowadays on two issues. While it is rather normal to have ministries on both sides of the Cyprus dividing line coming together in a web of areas, from tourism and environment to sports and rural development and education, when it comes to managing a working relationship of the two peoples of the island after more than a half-century of efforts, no magic formula could be found so far. Yet, the Greek Cypriot ministry in charge of agricultural production has been in efforts to establish its reign throughout the island in regards to halloumi production, and Denkta? is saying "No way." Turkish Cypriot footballers, on the other hand, are threatening to join the Cyprus Football Federation (KOP) of the internationally-recognized government in southern Cyprus, saying they were fed up with being left without a future for so long.

The Greek Cypriot Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Ministry asked the EU last July to grant halloumi Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. Acquiring such a status would mean halloumi production will come under strict regulations, but it could only be produced on Cyprus and under the registered methods. If the fact is that halloumi constitutes almost a quarter of the combined overall Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot exports, the importance of getting the PDO becomes all the more clear. Yet, on Cyprus, everything to the benefit of one or both peoples of the island must be contentious.

The Greek Cypriot side did not consult or get approval from the Turkish Cypriot side when applying for the PDO last year. This has become a routine of the Greek Cypriot side anyhow. Why would they get approval from the Turkish Cypriots? They long...