BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- If we had lived during the Cold War, a communist winning the presidency on the island of Cyprus, which has a strategic position in the eastern Mediterranean, would have been avoided at all costs. Now Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) leader Dimitris Christofias is about to become president of the Greek Cypriot administration, and nobody protests. What would they say? The Cold War is over, and Christofias isn't like the communists of old. Actually the 61-year-old leader was educated in Moscow and sympathizes with the Russians, but he doesn't want to challenge the European Union or the Western world or to ruin Greek Cyprus' prosperity. It's another point of his presidency which concerns us. AKEL has been arguing since the very beginning that Turkish and the Greek Cypriots should live together on the island peacefully. Although Christofias was among the opponents of the Annan plan before the 2004 referendum on it, he saw that things were moving in the direction of division. So he argued for a united Cyprus in his recent election campaign. After his unofficial victory, he extended his hand to the Turkish side and said that he would restart the peace process.
Compared to his predecessor Tassos Papadopoulos, Christofias is clearly more willing to find a solution. What's more, for many years now, AKEL has kept contact with the leftist Republican Turkish Party (CTP) party in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Christofias and TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat have a good dialogue. These are important advantages for starting new negotiations, but how much will the chances for a solution rise under Christofias? The AKEL leader is always talking about a solution, but of course this must have a particular meaning for him. From his campaign speeches, this is what he aims at: a federation with two regions and two nations will be established on Cyprus, political equality will be established between the two sides on the basis of resolutions of the UN Security Council, and foreign military forces (i.e. Turkish soldiers) will withdraw. Of course these are the general conditions put forth as the starting position in the election atmosphere. When a dialogue is established and the negotiations actually start, obviously there will be some flexibility on these positions and mutual concessions will be made.
What's important here is the wish and will of the two leaders to start a new process. Papadopoulos lacked this. Relevant institutions and countries are now ready to step in. First contacts will probably be held within weeks, and the parameters and details of the actual negotiations will be determined. The goal of this new process is to reach an agreement on the basis of a `united Cyprus.' Actually this is what Talat has wanted for many years, despite certain frustrations he has faced. The chances for new steps have risen with this new presidency in the Greek Cypriot administration. The two sides are hopeful now. But as Talat said, it would be good if this window of opportunity opens horizons towards a solution. Otherwise unification will remain a mere dream.