Agreement Is The Basic Principle

BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Both Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statements in Davos and the statement made after the National Security Council’s (NSC) meeting, demonstrate that the NSC meeting was held in a constructive atmosphere. There isn’t any quarrel between the military and civil wings of the NSC. Both, members of the government and military commanders seem to have contributed to a reconciliatory approach on forming a ‘national policy’ for the Cyprus problem. Thus, Turkey’s attitude in its policies on Cyprus towards the Annan Plan has become clear. Some people’s opinions on that the plan can be viewed as a constraint, and messages that it will be accepted as it is, don’t reflect reality. As Erdogan stated after his meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, ‘agreement’ will be the basic principle in approaching the plan. The NSC also confirms that Annan’s provision that ‘a referendum will be held in case there is no agreement’ is like a rule which is impossible to implement. The NSC concluded that an understanding saying, ‘we couldn’t agree but we go for a referendum’ can both not be accepted and cannot be explained to the public opinion. Based on this conclusion, Prime Minister Erdogan requested from Annan that this rule, also refused by the Greek Cypriots, should be changed. Nonetheless, he informed that the Turkish side would go for a referendum after an agreement with the Greek Cypriots.
After this stage, a mediator (the tendency of the Turkish side is US Secretary of State Colin Powell or former NATO Secretary-General George Robertson), with his talent, will work on forming a foundation that will enable the parties to sit at the table for an agreement. The Geek side’s attitude will also appear at this process. It will be understood whether they have a tendency to sit at the agreement table. Prime Minister Erdogan will also reflect Turkish views and approach on an agreement to US President George W. Bush. The expectation of the Turkish side is also to put pressure on the Greek side, to sit at the agreement table and display a compromising approach.
Linking them to a national policy, the Turkish side managed to give an end to different views and discussions. As a result of this, Turkey made its first step with the aim of sitting at the table. Now it’s the Greek side’s turn.