NEW HOPES FOR SYPRUS

After Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and yesterday and US President George W. Bush tomorrow, it is expected that an intensive process of looking for solution will begin.

I wonder if it will be successful this time. This question was discussed at a conference held by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) in Istanbul yesterday. The crowded group of Greek Cypriot, consisting of important politicians, seemed to be pleased with the stance of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Greek Cypriot administration’s former Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said, ‘Latest statements by Mr. Erdogan give the impression that there are important changes in the Turkish side’s stance. If this policy continues, the path of solution will be opened.’

In addition, Papapetrou and other Greek Cypriot participants mentioned their doubts and asked these questions: ‘Will the Turkish side consider Annan’s plan the base of negotiation? Will Denktas follow this line as the negotiator? Does the Turkish side favor a solution actually? Will they display the flexibility necessary for this?’ These questions show that the Greek Cypriot administration can’t trust Ankara fully yet. Actually Erdogan’s new suggestions such as the ‘mediator’ and ‘narrowed document’ confused Greek Cypriot and Turkish circles. Speaking at the lunch held by TESEV yesterday, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said Erdogan should explain these issues and that a new and dynamic process started on the path of solution. As Talat mentioned, governments in Ankara and Nicosia are determined and another important factor is the international conjuncture. All these things make it possible to be optimist once more.”