BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- Will Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas change his mind not to attend next week’s four-way summit in Switzerland? Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his Greek counterpart Kostas Karamanlis’s decision to attend the summit created the hope that the Cypriot Turkish leader would relent. Everyone was surprised when Denktas furiously stated on TV that he wouldn’t go to Switzerland. If this decision isn’t a tactic to make Turkey’s effectiveness felt, then it should be considered a failure.
There are some contradictions in this decision: Denktas said that he won’t attend the negotiations in Switzerland, but also stated he wouldn’t withdraw from his position as negotiator. Why doesn’t Denktas withdraw if he’s lost hope for a solution? While Denktas reiterated that he is in harmony with the Turkish Foreign Ministry, he declared his decision on TV. Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in Ankara, and TRNC Prime Minister Talat learned of Denktas’s decision from the TV news! Stating that there’s been no positive sign from the other side on the Turkish sine qua nons, Denktas says that ‘nothing would happen’ if these are rejected. But the negotiations are still continuing. Is it right not to attend the second phase when it continues (or wouldn’t it bring a negative result)?
By the way, the TRNC leader’s reasons shouldn’t be disregarded, as he has some justifiable points. The Greek side overconfidently rejects Turkish offers and is aware of its opportunities. The European Union is playing both sides, especially on ‘derogation.’ The UN, on the other hand, already believes that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will have the last word in line with his plan… If the UN and EU are really sincere about reaching an agreement by May 1, then they should change their attitudes and take the Turkish side’s worries and offers more seriously. Denktas’s move should also be seen as a warning. They should also understand that Ankara and Talat’s government will also lose their hope in this process if there aren’t developments that would also satisfy them…
Now Denktas’s attitude and Ankara’s policy are different. Denktas stated earlier that the Turkish side shouldn’t be split. A one-sided decision wouldn’t help to prevent diverse attitudes...