How to read the results of Cyprus elections
This result will not please anybody but is the most efficient result in my mind, altough I backed the pro-EU parties in this election.
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How to read the results?
Nobody winning the victory eased the responsibilities of the government of the Turkish Republic.
What do I mean?
The Turkish government, by paying compensation for the so-called Loizodou case at the Human Rights Court, has accepted that this case may be held as a model for the other 2000-4000 cases at the court.
The total of the compensation may amount to $20-30 billion.
At the same time, by getting permission from the European Council to give Mrs. Loizodou’s land back in 2005, it has convinced the Council that it will solve the Cyprus problem in general in 2004.
Now if the status quo had won a great victory, it could block the way for peace in Cyprus and put the Turkish government in a very awkward position before the EU and the European Council.
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On the other hand:
The pro-EU parties winning a great victory would help quicken the resolution of Cyprus through the Annan Plan, but would disturb the Turkish Army and the predominant status quo in Turkey deeply.
That would agitate some 70,000 people in Cyprus who have been imported from Turkey and do not know whether they would be deported if a peace agreement is reached.
The opposition could not convince them that their right to stay in Cyprus "after peace" is largely protected by the Annan Plan.
The opposition could not offer them projects that will give them housing after the Greek houses they live in are given back to the original owners.
Over all, the opposition could not build an image that they are determined to solve the problems of the imported citizens as well.
These people could be very easily provoked if the opposition who ignored them won a big victory.
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I do not mean that it is easy to bring two sides that have pushed one another fiercely before the elections together, i.e. to form a cross coalition.
But they have no other choice now.
