Tempest in teapot

The term presidency of the European Union brought the Dutch face to face with the bitter anachronism of the world: The Cyprus problem.

With the Greek Cypriot state, a full member of the EU "legally" representing the entire population and territory of the eastern Mediterranean island in the union trying to block any development that would imply in any way some sort of acknowledgement of a separate administration on the territory "accepted to be under its sovereignty" and Ankara playing to the galleries and insisting that Turkish Cypriots be invited to the EU-OIC forum to be held in Istanbul next week as the "Turkish State of Cyprus" — as was used in the faltered U.N. Cyprus plan — the forum has become a major headache for EU term president Holland.

Because of the deadlock on how Turkish Cypriots will be invited to the meeting, the EU-OIC forum faces a bleak future: Postponement, cancellation or who knows what contacts are continuing for a way out from the impasse.

What’s happening is indeed nothing more than tempest in teapot as whatever action is taken it will not have any effect on the land. That is neither an invitation to Turkish Cypriots as the Turkish State of Cyprus will solve the Cyprus problem; provide legality to the government in north Cyprus; bring an end to international isolation of Turkish Cypriots nor will it prejudice the "sole legitimate government of Cyprus" status of the Greek Cypriots. The fight is one on semantics, rather than one on substance. Greek Cypriots are playing to the galleries and trying to send a message to its people that despite their rejection of the U.N. plan, the all-Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia remains the sole legitimate government on the island. And, Ankara, in a face-saving approach after its "ending of Turkish Cypriot international isolation" policy landed in fiasco — which was unavoidable anyhow — has been playing to the galleries and trying to show to the Turkish nation that it at least achieved something — though meaningless — for the Turkish Cypriot people.

It should not be forgotten that the international isolation of northern Cyprus is a natural consequence of firstly, the 1985 Security Council resolution declaring the Turkish Cypriot state "null and void" and prohibiting its recognition in any way and secondly the European Court ruling prohibiting trade with northern Cyprus. Isolation of northern Cyprus could be lifted through a political decision by the EU or by some individual governments, but such developments would be contrary to international law and would be annulled when challenged in court.

In order to end the Turkish Cypriot isolation there is need to change the reality on the land. There is need to change the reasons on which the Security Council resolution and the European Court ruling were established. That is as long as the government in the southern part of Nicosia remains the "sole legitimate government of Cyprus" no legal measure could be taken to bring an end to Turkish Cypriot isolation. Saying, "We shall bring an end to isolation in the north" is just a goodwill statement which can never be achieved unless the rules of the game, that is the reality on the ground is changed, that is the Security Council rescinds its earlier resolution, acknowledges that there is not one but indeed two equal administrations on Cyprus neither of which could represent the other and allows the international community to establish official contacts with the north.

Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadolopulos taking hostage of the EU may help the EU capitals, let’s hope, to see this bitter reality and start acting in sincerity towards Turkish Cypriots rather than making superfluous statements that they would not be left out in the cold because a settlement was prevented in the April referenda on the U.N. plan with over a 76 percent rejection vote in southern Cyprus despite the overwhelming approval vote in the north.

And, Ankara, rather than playing to the galleries, must adopt an honest policy towards northern Cyprus and should not try to fool the people there with false hopes that their isolation would be terminated without getting international recognition for their state.

Ankara and northern Cyprus must declare a deadline for the validity of the April vote on the U.N. plan and tell the world that once that deadline expires without a move by Greek Cypriots towards a power-sharing deal on the island, it would be the legitimate right of the Turkish Cypriot people not to be left in the cold and expect the Security Council to reconsider its 1985 resolution banning their state.