BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- We know what's in Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos' head. His aim is to establish a `unitary state' led by the Greek majority. Therefore, the Greek leader rejected various talk about a federation with two regions based on the equality of the Turks and the Greeks, as well as objected to the Annan plan and made the people reject it in the 2004 referendum. Papadopoulos talks clearly now, saying that he won't accept any solution other than a unitary state. As a matter of fact, speaking to French news weekly L'Express, Papadopoulos said that the Turks are a minority on the island and indicated that a solution should be based on `one nation and one state.'
The new attitude of the Greek leader rejects the basic principles accepted by the two sides during the talks since the 1970s. The two regional federal system which was suggested in the agreements in 1977 and 1979 was a model in the talks for 30 years. Now Papadopoulos' stance against these principles and his talk of a unitary state are hindering this process. As a matter of fact, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat said in his letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Papadopoulos' statements are contradicting the accepted parameters and blocking new efforts for a solution. During a recent presentation in Istanbul, Talat said that the Greek leader aims at uniting the North with the south under Greek rule. He said that in this case a solution would be impossible. According to Talat the only hope is the intervention of a more active international community (especially the UN and European Union) and forcing Papadopoulos to an agreement. However, the international community has shown no effort on this issue.
I see that Talat has obviously lost his hopes. He made a great effort for a solution and didn't even lose his hopes when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN plan. Unfortunately, a hawk like Papadopoulos is in power and the EU goes along with the maneuvering of the Greek Cypriots after accepting the membership of the Greek part. Recent polls also show that the great majority of the people, including young people, support Papadopoulos. Also the majority says that they would reject the UN plan even today. The general attitude of the Greeks indicates that a new process for talks is a dream. For the Turks, a new process will be a search for alternative solutions. Various models are being considered on this issue (like Slovakia, Montenegro and Kosovo). In any case, this new process is more likely to bring a solution with two states rather than Papadopoulos' dream of a unitary state.