Welcoming Washington to Cyprus

While admitting Greek Cypriots to the Union, the EU, the ‘owner’ of the UN plan for Cyprus, didn’t do more than say ‘well done, old boy’ to the Turkish Cypriots. In contrast, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Ali Talat was invited by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to Washington, in a meeting which brought unprecedented results. The US gave two important messages. Powell called Talat ‘prime minister,’ and despite Greek Cypriot objections, US State Deportment spokesmen Richard Boucher insisted on calling the Southern Cypriot administration the ‘Greek Cypriot administration.’ Washington also promised to support the TRNC’s representation in international financial organizations and some political platforms.

The issue is obvious. In its war in Iraq the US has come to realize that its shoes, stuck in the sand, are too expansive. Knowing that it can’t set up other bases in the region to control it, Washington realized the need to have its own bases on Cyprus. US initiatives really began after the failure of the UN plan on Cyprus, which was actually the EU’s failure. It was reported that Greek administration Prime Minister Tassos Papadopoulos would say ‘yes’ for two independent states on Cyprus in return for some land from the North. Thus the EU in the South and the US in the North will share the island in peace.

Another attitude is that US officials are saying that Washington recognizes Talat instead of Rauf Denktas as the leader of the Turkish Cypriots. This is hardly surprising, because a Talat advocating Ankara’s disengagement from Cyprus is a more amenable partner for US interests.

The important question is, how will Turkey stay in the game? Will it be on the inside or outside? And who will decide on Turkey’s role, Ankara or Washington? We shall see.”