Hopes were high for the Turkish Cypriots in late 2004. Despite the rejection of the Annan Plan by Greek Cypriots, the European Union had made a promise to improve the lives of Turkish Cypriots by ending their economic and political isolation. They had voted in favor of the plan and for that, they would be rewarded. At the time, Secretary General Kofi Annan, invited the members of the Council to, “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 and impeding their development, not for the purposes of affording recognition or assisting secession, but as a positive contribution to the goal of reunification.”[1]
Fast forward to present times and Northern Cyprus is still struggling to become a part of the global community while Turkey has continued to give aid and offer military assistance should it be necessary. It has been 35 years since the Northern Republic of Cyprus was cut off from the rest of the world. They are not recognized internationally, politically or economically, despite EU promises to halt their isolation.
Lately, Cyprus seems to be the popular headline bounced around major newspapers in Turkey and more so than usual. There can be no wonder as to why this issue has moved to the forefront once again. Turkey is facing the looming threat of stalled EU accession talks because of its adamant decision to deny access of its ports to the Greek Cypriot side. This political move has been in response to the isolation of Northern Cyprus.
However, in June of 2005, Turkey signed additional protocol assuring the EU that as part of accession talks they would open those ports. In 2006, when Turkey refused to grant right of entry to their seaports and airports to Greek Cypriots, the EU suspended negotiations with them, to prove they meant business. A new deadline to lift the blockade was given which happens to be at year’s end.
The last few weeks have seen an influx of comments released by the Turkish Cypriot President, Mehmet Ali Talat, and his counterpart, Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias. The two have met 38 times since last September when reunification talks were re-opened. A resolution had not been met but several statements have been released on the progress of finding one for their home, which lies just south of Turkish shores in the Mediterranean.
Christofias has repeatedly stated that the Greek Cypriots have no desire to speed this process a long, which has led to speculation that this is a political move to halt Turkey’s EU negotiations. If a solution cannot be settled by November of this year and Turkey insists on keeping her ports closed to Greek Cypriot traffic then EU talks could be suspended and for how long no one can be sure.
This week, Turkey’s government spokesman Cemil Cicek stated the obvious when reiterating that talks between the two sides cannot continue forever. The answer remains elusive as to whether they will though. Talat seems to be facing an uphill battle between Christofias’ stalling methods and the growing chasm in how this solution will be solved. The two leaders have been trying to negotiate a plan in which both parties will be satisfied with the administration and power sharing, property, economy, territory and map as well as security and guarantees.
However, a new thorn seems to be pricking Talat in his side and that would be the newly elected Prime Minister of Cyprus, Devis Eroglu. With the latter and his right wing National Unity Party (UBP) claiming victory earlier this year, Talat has faced opposition which could make the goal of reunification even more out of reach.
When he first took office, the UBP leader stated, “"We will continue to support negotiations" and "No-one should say we are against them. We will put forward our views and discuss them within the framework of Turkey’s foreign policy on Cyprus."
Yet, even in an earlier interview with Turkey’s Today’s Zaman newspaper, Eroglu would be quoted on sentiments that he would once again echo, “Everything will be easier if it is universally accepted that we [Turkish Cypriots] are a nation and that we have a state."[2] This idea seems to have drifted back to the UBP’s agenda, if it ever left. Earlier this week, Hurriyet Daily News reported that Foreign Minister Ozgurgun implied that even if both sides agreed to a referendum, the government lead by Eroglu would oppose it and lead what he called a “no” campaign. His party will not compromise on issues like bi-zonality, political equality of the parties and guarantees. This displays the unwillingness of the UBP to reunite the island and instead opt to have their own independent state.[3]
There have also been suggestions that Talat is only pushing the reunification agenda so hurriedly because he is using it as a political ploy to win the popular vote in next year’s elections. Although this could be a partial motive for his insistence on acceleration, Talat has supported reunification since the Annan referendum; to imply he only has a self -serving strategy behind it seems too critical.
Regardless of the strong efforts by the leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mehmet Ali Talat has yet to pave a yellow brick road towards realizing that dream. There seems to be no doubt that both sides, along with Turkey are committed to resolving this issue but only time will tell what the solution will be. Will it be the long awaited reunification of the island or an autonomous Turkish Cypriot state finally recognized by the world? Might everyone be surprised if the final solution were the creation of a federal state similar to the U.S. with a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in which each side retains its own state government while operating under a larger umbrella one. The answer seems to be unclear for the moment despite the best efforts of spectators to predict an outcome.
An issue that has been made clear is the Greek Cypriots pledge to block Turkey’s EU admission pending reunification of the island. The irony of that promise lies in the fact that it was they who initially rejected the previous referendum. The other issue that seems transparent is the continuation of Cyprus’s economic and political isolation. Northern Cyprus wants to find a lasting solution; their willingness in doing so can be seen in their leader’s efforts to reunite the island as well as their past vote to pass the Annan Plan. The world’s choice to isolate the island is not a matter of international law but of political choice. States are allowed to trade with each other without having to admit diplomatic recognition of each other. There is no legal justification for the economic isolation of Cyprus because only through bi-lateral agreements and treaties or by statement does a state recognizes another. A country does not indirectly support recognition through trade alone; indirect recognition is to establish a diplomatic relationship. There must be a relationship on a political level, not economic.
An additional issue of contention has been the ban of all direct flights to Northern Cyprus. In May, Cyprus Turkish Airlines took their case to the United Kingdom’s High Court where they will argue that once again, there is no validation under international law to ban direct flights to the island. It should be noted that all flights to the Turkish Cypriot side must stop in Turkey, the only country that recognizes the north.
Finally, by Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias’ stalling and his insistence on dragging out negotiations, he is promoting and prolonging further economic hardship for the Turkish Cypriots. This is a political ploy to halt accession talks and although it is understandable for politicians to act in their own interests in order to get votes at the ballot box, it is exceptionally unfortunate when it is done at the expense of others well being. Christofias is monopolizing the system and prolonging the island’s global victim status. At the same time, through his chosen method of delay tactics, he seems to want to ensure the failure of Turkey’s entrance into the EU. He is killing two birds with one stone.
Without pressure from the EU, the Greek Cypriots have no motivation to speed up reunification talks and why would they? They have already been accepted into the European Union and enjoy all the benefits that come with such a membership. There is no reason for them to make this a top priority for their country unless the EU demands them to do so. This problem not only needs Christofias, Talat and the Turkish government working to find a solution but the EU as well. They should step up and take responsibility for accepting only part of the island rather than in its entirety, especially since there was an ongoing domestic issue to solve first. German Chancellor Merkel has expressed these same sentiments saying, “Unfortunately, both the Greek Cypriots and Turkey have stood on their own lines” and that “These negotiations have clearly taught us that none of the countries unable to solve their own problems should be let in the EU, otherwise as is seen in the case of Cyprus member countries (who join the EU though they are unable to solve their problems) could block progress for a settlement of disputes.”
Unfortunately, the clock cannot be turned back.
By Stacy Maruskin (JTW)
Footnotes:
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