Turkey, EU and Cyprus Veto

For people who are not familiar with the Cyprus problem, this will sound like a reasonable request. The EU and the rest of the world recognize the Greek Cypriot administration as the legitimate government, so why not Turkey? I am afraid it is not quite as simple as that. Firstly, the internationally recognized Cyprus government is only recognized as a caretaker (de-facto) government pending a solution to the Cyprus problem. The Greek Cypriot government claim authority and governorship over the whole of the island, and over the Turkish Cypriot population. The truth is that there are two sizeable communities in the island. Turkish Cypriots make up approximately 25%, and the rest are predominantly Greek Cypriots. These two communities are living apart and their respective governments govern them. Turkish Cypriots live in the North, a third of the island and the Greek Cypriots live in the remaining two thirds. There is a border separating the two parts of the island regulated by UN. This has been the case for the last 30 years when the Greek nationalist attempted to annex the island to Greece. This prompted Turkey to intervene and partition the island where the Turkish Cypriots can live in safety.

Secondly, there is only one legal entity that is underpinned by internationally binding treaties involving both communities, The Republic of Cyprus. These treaties and the republic’s constitution enshrine in it the principal of political equality for both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. They also require that the guarantor powers, Turkey, Greece and Britain safeguard the basic principal of political equality for all the citizens of the island. Clearly, this is not the case with the Greek Cypriot administration, which by force of arms has expelled all the Turkish Cypriot representatives from all the governmental organizations and thus it cannot be considered legitimate. The only way the legitimacy of a unified Cyprus can be established is through an international agreement that satisfies all parties. This agreement of course needs to take in to account the present realities. In summary, it has to reference the past treaties, as these are the only legal basis that exists concerning whole of Cyprus. It has to address the security fears of both communities. It has to address the property issues and have safeguards that ensure political equalities. This agreement exist in the name of the Anan plan which is a UN sponsored document developed over 5 years in consultation with all parties involved. It had been accepted by Turkey, Greece, and Turkish Cypriots but after very strong lobbying by the present Greek Cypriot administration, the Greek Cypriots voted against it by 76%.

I believe, the Greek Cypriot administration, having been entrusted with international recognition, as a caretaker of the Republic has to counter its Greek nationalist tendencies and work towards a united island based on the principals on which the republic was formed. Namely, providing political equality and opportunities for all of its citizens underpinned by an international agreement such as the Anan Plan. It is only then that it will be morally and legally possible for Turkey to recognize the united Cyprus.