TAT - Ankara
The referendum held in the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides in the scope of the Annan plan has not emerged a surprising result. The public in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) public's 64.9% has voted 'yes' and approved peace.
However, the meaning of more 'yes' votes should be perceived as the TRNC wants to change the current status and economic structure. On the other hand, as 75.8% of the Greek Cypriot people voted 'no', Southern Cyprus gave the following message; "We don't want peace and to leave with Turks together. Foreign interventions are attacks on independence." Hence, the Annan plan has been invalid and the United Nations announced that it would close its representation office in Cyprus mid-way. Actually, the Greek Cypriot side gained some benefits until it was convinced to vote 'no'. In addition, Russia, by vetoing the UN Security Council's resolution, has protected its commercial field with Greek Cyprus. TRNC President Rauf Denktas's statement over Russian vote as 'Thanks to Russia,' has been unfortunate as Russia did not vetoed the resolution in the sake of the Turkish Cypriots.
The referendum result clearly showed that the 'Turkish side favors solution' and the Greek Cypriot side 'opposes accordance with Turkish side and does not want to shae the Cyprus Republic with Turks'. The biggest responsible for the current condition is the EU, which promised Cyprus to accept on May 1 as a member whether a 'no' or a 'yes' comes out of referendum. If an extraordinary situation does not emerge as of May 1, rather than the US, EU will be the main actor in Cyprus. Therefore, the EU has burdened new responsibilities as from April 24.
The TRNC government should be more careful before believing in the words as, "TRNC decision is praiseworthy. The referendum held in TRNC is the approval of the Annan plan and is absolutely not a "Presidential confidence voting." Therefore, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat's statement as, "Denktas must resign" is not appropriate. Denktas should carry out his duty as a historical mission and a person internationally trusted. The TRNC coalition government should continue without any corruption and by gaining the opposition parties' support. Negotiations should be made to get use of the advantages Turkey gained in the most beneficial way and concrete steps should be taken. The fighting in the interior politics should be left behind with the understanding of "national case, protecting TRNC's rights has newly started." In this scope, lobby activities should start soon.
As a result, Turkey has also gained advantage in terms of starting EU negotiations until the EU summit in June. Turkey and TRNC should be in accordance and should avoid giving the impression through 'yes' vote that it would make any concession. There should no fighting among the Turkish Cypriots. TRNC administrators and political parties should reach accordance and hold meetings with Turkey. Diplomatic initiatives should be launched for;
1.TRNC recognition by EU member countries
2.Lifting embargoes imposed on TRNC,
3.Free flow of TRNC goods EU,
4.Gaining TRNC Turks' rights in EU,
5.Launching Turkey's negotiations with EU