GREEK SIDE IS IN TROUBLE

Turkey has fulfilled an important part of these provisions. If we would look at the news reflected on yesterday’s dailies, Ankara does also accept the provision on referendum before May 1. Athens and the Greek Cypriot part on the other hand haven’t adjusted any of the provisions. On the contrary, both the Greek Cypriots and Greece say, ‘We won’t accept Annan’s provisions.’ Lastly Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that they wouldn’t accept the provision on referendum. The aim of this provision seems to force the parties for an agreement. If the parties couldn’t reach a solution until the date for the referendum, then they will accept another condition based on the provision on referendum: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will decide on the issues on which no consensus is reached that is Annan will fill the blanks. When Annan invited the sides to Hague, this provision was already on the table. Before going to Hague, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas said Ankara that he can’t accept this provision and if he would accept it and the country would go for a referendum, then the majority would be against the Annan plan. And Ankara said, ‘That’s good because the Turkish side would use its right for self determination and no body would say anything to the result’ Ankara’s suggestion was very clear: Accept all the provisions including the referendum. Don’t be the one who leaves the table. Denktas didn’t listen to these suggestions.

This time Ankara is pushing harder on Denktas. Denktas met with the prime minister, president and the chief of general staff in Ankara. His aim was to find a sign on a disagreement between the three. But this time he couldn’t find any disagreement. That means if there is a lack of confidence for Denktas, The Turkish side has now a more solid stance.

Since the Turkish side is very determined, the Greek Cypriots and Athens are surprised and trying to make up lies. The statement from Athens and Nicosia displays that both Greece and Greek Cypriots would never accept a solution based on the Annan plan. New Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos based his election campaign on being against the Annan plan. And the former leader Clerides, wrote in his memories openly that he was not going to accept the Annan plan but wanted to be seen as accepting it and leave the job for refusing it to Denktas. Now it seems as the roles in Cyprus have changed. If only Turkey would do these steps before the Copenhagen Summit and Denktas wouldn’t reject the plan at the beginning.”