BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- In the weekend elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), most Turkish Cypriots reaffirmed their support for the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and its coalition partner the Democrat Party (DP) and the Talat government. The election results showed that the majority still accepts UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan, as they did last April. Now the CTP is stronger than after the elections of 14 months ago, which shows an important shift in the Turkish Cypriots’ stance. A couple of years ago most people were allergic to the CTP and people had doubts about it. The right led by the National Unity Party (UBP) got two-thirds of the votes and the left consisting of the CTP had one-third of the votes back then. Now voters don’t break themselves down along hard ideological lines like the parties do. People who support the status quo represent only one-third of votes, but those who favor a solution represent two-thirds. This socio-political change has several reasons: conditions on the island and in the region have changed. The European Union factor led people, particularly young people, into the direction of change and a solution. Now the CTP has moved to the center and a pragmatic line under Talat’s leadership. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has also started to develop new strategies in Ankara for a resolution. Whatever the reasons, the results of last weekend’s elections showed the wishes of the majority. This situation should cause those who still cling to old feelings and views to see the current atmosphere more realistically.
Most probably, the election results will cause the formation of a CTP-DP coalition. What will change with this situation? How will it influence efforts for a solution? Let’s imagine that the results had been just the opposite. If certain people opposed to a solution which could bring Turkish Cypriots into the EU had come to power, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos and his supporters would have been quite happy. Then there would have been great pressure on the Turkish Cypriots. Finally, this would have caused huge political complications for Ankara and problems for the Greek Cypriots. Of course the Turkish Cypriots’ desire for a solution and consensus isn’t enough. The Greek Cypriot administration must take the same stance. The entire world, including the US and the UN, hailed the TRNC elections results. This support should have practical efforts. For example, applying various measures to end the isolation of the TRNC and putting pressure on Papadopoulos to change his uncompromising stance. Now the EU, the US and the UN are expected to see the election results as an opportunity for a resolution and so take necessary steps as soon as possible.