Karamanlis’ new rule

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The rule of New Democracy Party (YDP) leader and Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has begun in Athens. What stances he will take on issues of interest to Turkey isn’t yet clear. Ankara has started to analyze the elections not just politically, but in terms of family. Former Greek Premier Constantin Karamanlis’ family left their home in Konya’s Karaman district and emigrated to Greece when he was just one year old. This connection makes the nephew Karamanlis the ‘Turkish friend.’ Of course we have a mutual interest in the warming of Turkish-Greek relations. So, the initial picture indicates that Karamanlis will never forget that his family emigrated from Anatolia; he will always think that he should be a friend to Turkey and so work to solve problems speedily. However, this isn’t really so. The first news from Greece is as follows:

– Karamanlis’ aides are more nationalist.

– Certain politicians who didn’t care for the ousted socialists’ stance on Cyprus defected from the ruling PASOK party to join the YDP.

– Karamanlis might believe Cyprus is headed for an impasse.

Some believe that the Southern Cyprus administration will work more harmoniously with Karamanlis. Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos will visit Athens and meet with the new premier. Some think that Papadopoulos will have an influence on Karamanlis during this meeting.

As for the Turkish side, there is Denktas’s stance against the partnership of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and the TRNC government. If UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says, ‘Let’s start negotiations with Ankara,’ we shouldn’t be surprised, because we have discussed the issue with Athens. When I read the Foreign Ministry’s statement yesterday, I was shocked "It has become clear the Greek Cypriot side lacks the political will and desire for a solution," it said. Actually this is hardly a discovery by the Foreign Ministry. When we connect the dots on the statements made by Denktas following the meetings, such a picture emerges. If Denktas hadn’t told what happened during the meetings, he would have been branded the uncompromising side again. TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and his deputy Serdar Denktas arrived in Ankara with a last-minute decision just like previously. He seems to be preparing something new with the government. We hope that the warm messages of the first days prove lasting.”