CYPRUS, SEVRES, LAUSANNE

‘All of Europe,’ answered Demirel. According to the senior statesman, after solving the Cyprus problem in favor of its own interests, Europe will turn to the Aegean and our southeast. I looked at my archives; Turkey became a European Union candidate in December 1999, and then President Demirel said at that time that the decision taken at Helsinki was binding for Ankara, warning that Turkey would lose power if it stays outside Europe but grow stronger if it joins.

At that summit, Europe wanted the Cyprus issue to be solved, but it also stated that this was not actually a criteria. It also stated that the Greek part of Cyprus would become a full EU member. Moreover, it stipulated that Ankara and Athens had to solve their Aegean problem by 2004, otherwise the issue would be brought to the international Court of Justice at the Hague. When then Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit hesitated, Demirel pushed for the government to accept this. In politics, when conditions change, opinions change too. I don’t know how and when the EU, which boosted Turkey’s power in 1999, adopted a policy in line with Sevres. Europe is a community of states and groups. Some still want to implement the Treaty of Sevres, which was a result of the World War I catastrophe, and there are also some who foresee that such instability would destroy Europe.

The Cyprus summit in Burgenstock, Switzerland is continuing. There are also positive signs about Turkey’s requests. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan seems to be near Turkey’s conditions for bizonality, political equality, guarantees and troops. One of the most important developments is that the 45,000 settlers from Turkey in Turkish Cyprus will receive citizenship under Annan’s plan. This means that Turkey’s moves since 1974 have been legally justified.

There are ups and down in any negotiations. The important thing is the acceptability of Annan’s plan. Ankara’s diplomatic contacts with the EU and the US are showing their positive effects in Burgenstock. I’m optimistic and have no doubt that Turkey’s EU membership will strengthen the Treaty of Lausanne [the pact which set the boundaries of modern Turkey and superceded Sevres].”