Solution Under Current Circumstances

When I went to Cyprus to take the pulse of the island, [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] TRNC President Rauf Denktas had told me:

"If I win the election, I will sit at the table with both the Greek Cypriots and the European Union (EU). I will work for a solution."

However, he did not win and thus launched an anti-solution campaign to punish the public.

On the other hand, Peace and Democracy Movement leader Mustafa Akinci had said, "The ones who want to escape from the basic principles of the Annan Plan are the Greek side; however, we are seeing a spoilsport. The hand of the Greek side is strengthening."

Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat by saying, "If Denktas is removed from the equation, the real picture would emerge. How Greeks and Turks examine the issue would be understood by the world. If Denktas is out of the equation, then the Greeks would be seen as those against conciliation," had predicted the present situation as a politician with vision.

My observation is that Talat has closely examined the double-faced Greek policies that have been pursued for more than 30 years.

It made it easier to understand that the Greek Cypriots do not have any will for a solution by making it look easier to sit at the [negotiation] table.

Even the European Union (EU) lambasted the Greek Cypriots for deceiving them. Those who embraced some prejudices as knowledge, and have not let them go for years, without realizing that they were partial, had to accept being deceived.

The ‘no’ vote surpassing 75 percent deciphered the policy of the Greek side.

The policy of the [Greek Cypriots] based on Turkish enmity of years became outdated; however, they will become Europeans themselves. What a cold shower for the EU!

Our addressee should not be the Greek side anymore. We have to address the EU.

It is time to bury the policy of concession and display a non-concession policy.

We have to increase anti-Greek Cypriot lobby activities, we have to explain that their actions do not constitute a good political culture on democracy and human rights.

The Greek side has left the table and now the Turks are sitting around it. After May 1, whether or not the TRNC joins the EU is no longer an issue of only two communities.

There are two options here for Europe: 1) To assume that the TRNC does not exist, 2) or by accepting its existence start a new negotiation and dialogue process.

Because the Turks are ‘presumably the non-existing’ side according to the Greek Cypriots, the EU has to solve this dilemma within itself. Is it possible to consider an existence as non-existence?

Besides, a second referendum definitely cannot be accepted because the majority of the Greek side voted for rejection. The referendum demand is nonsensical, by trying to leave everything as it was before, without processing new negotiations and strengthening our hand.

[Greek Cypriot leader Tassos] Papadopoulos and Denktas have no role within the EU accession process of the TRNC.

Neither the village trip of Bulent Ecevit nor the ambition of Denktas was enough to affect the society. These are not the leaders of a transforming society. This is so very obvious.

Although the Greek Cypriots, who only produced policies presenting Turkey as an aggressive country to the world, were so pleased with the veto of the Russians who sell rockets to them, Europe and America now question their current views.

Turkey has to continue its solution-oriented policies by taking the initiative. Lobby activities should be given paramount importance.