We may miss the Annan plan

The reason we are stuck on the Cyprus issue is not because of any conspiracies generated by certain foreign countries, but due to our uncompromising policies that oppose a settlement. We should always keep this in mind. However, some people still insist on disregarding the facts.

Accusations should not be made against people seeking ways for a settlement, but against those who pursued the wrong policies in the past.

Let’s have a look at what advantages Annan plan could provide us.

Turkey has long been accused (unjustly) of being an invasionary force on the island. By accepting the Annan plan, we will totally get rid of this label. In addition, the existence of Turkish troops in the north of the island will be legitimized. Then, nobody will be able to accuse Turkey of being an invader on the island.
The Annan plan will allow Turkish settlers in northern Cyprus to remain on the island.
The right to govern the north of the island will be given to Turks, and the fact that there are two populations on the island will be recognized.
The leader of the Turkish society will be able to become president. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) will be granted sovereignty within its own region and it will be able to form its own Parliament, pass its own laws, and establish its own police force.
The Turkish population on the island will have equal representation with the Greek population.
If a settlement cannot be reached by May, 1, Greece may send troops to the south of the island. The Annan plan foresees the disarmament of the whole island after Turkey’s membership to the EU and therefore eliminates a possible threat from the Greek side.
Finally, the implementation of all of these provisions depends on Turkey’s EU membership. Therefore, if Turkey does not become an EU member, it will still have the chance to put the Ankara agreement into practice.
Turkey has nothing to lose but everything to gain
There are no major provisions in the Annan plan that could harm Turkey. On the contrary, Greek Cypriots who want to go back to the period before 1974 are cornered by the Annan plan and forced to make important sacrifices.

In fact, soon you will see that these Greek Cypriots will be the group most strongly opposing the plan.

If the Turkish side had played the game correctly in the past, if they had accepted the Annan plan before the Greek Cypriots were guaranteed EU membership, the situation today would be highly different — the side stuck in the corner would be them instead of us.

Now, there isn’t much time before May 1, and the Greek side seems to have many more advantages than us. And when they take their place in the decision making mechanisms within the EU they will block many things using their veto rights.

So our task is now much more difficult.

In the middle of all these difficulties, the people responsible for the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot situation come up and say: "They are selling the island." They should see their failures and shut their mouths.

Papandreou’s self-confidence
A new leader is rising in Greece. Until now he has been the "second man" in Greek politics but his vision and focus are getting attention and now he is the leader of PASOK.

Elections will be held on March 7 in Greece. Previously, PASOK was given no chance and a victory for Karamanlis seemed certain. But after Papandreou’s election as PASOK leader, this has changed. Papandreou’s personality has played a huge role in that.

Papandreou began his election campaign in Western Thrace. There, for the first time, a Greek leader accepted that the Greeks have treated the Turkish minority unjustly and promised that such an attitude towards Turks will not continue.

Saying such things in prior to an election requires high self-confidence — and Papandreou has it.

Of course, then I ask myself why Turkey doesn’t raise such politicians.