BY SEMIH IDIZ
MILLIYET- Despite being our 'national cause,' the Cyprus issue doesn't get much attention in Turkey anymore. But people who think that the current status quo will go on are mistaken. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot administration leader Dimitris Christofias will meet tomorrow, as part of efforts to find a solution. The Turkish side wants future comprehensive talks - as opposed to open-ended ones - to result from this meeting.
The Greek Cypriots have signaled that nothing has been gained from the 'work groups' which were set up this spring, adding that the European Union should get more involved. In sum, the Turkish side showed back in 2004 that it wants a solution. Now it's Greek Cypriots' turn to prove that they want a solution too, but they have yet to do so. I was in the TRNC last week with a delegation from the Eurasian Strategic Research Center (ASAM) as Talat's guests.
Among the delegation were former National Intelligence Agency (MIT) Undersecretary Sonmez Koksal, former Ambassador to Washington Faruk Logoglu, former Ambassador to the UN Umit Pamir, and retired Ambassador Tugay Ozceri, who still acts as an advisor to former TRNC President Rauf Denktas. These people have all devoted years to the Cyprus issue. As for the meetings between Talat, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, the Denktases (father and son, Democratic Party leader Serdar Denktas), main opposition leader Tahsin Ertugruloglu and the Greek Cypriot delegation chaired by former Greek Cypriot administration leader Galfcos Clerides' daughter Katie Clerides, I can sum them up with just one word: distrust, not only between the north and south, but among everybody. Here's what I mean:
1. According to the pro-Denktas camp, Talat and Soyer want to 'sell out Cyprus.' They don't trust our ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), either. After Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said in January that there was a new window of opportunity for a solution on Cyprus, Rauf Denktas, offended, said that this wasn't a window of opportunity, but of suicide. His son also argues that Ankara isn't making its presence felt on the island. That's why he's complaining about our Foreign Ministry.
2. Talat has to proceed cautiously, but some people say that he doesn't at all trust Christofias, who has been his 'comrade for 30 years.' He's also angry with a memorandum signed by Britain with the Greek Cypriot administration on June 5, saying that it shows Britain is taking sides against Turks and so is untrustworthy.
3. The Greek Cypriots don't trust Turkey, either. They think that even if Talat and Christofias reach an agreement, Ankara will derail it and that even if the government agrees, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) would ignore the pact. Interestingly, some people in Northern Cyprus also agree with these concerns. Similarly, Talat clearly mentioned a few times that he was concerned about political developments in Turkey. In addition, the TSK is known not to trust Talat and his Republican Turkey Party (CTP). In this atmosphere of distrust, it's a mystery how a solution to the Cyprus issue will be found.