Yes-No Game in Cyprus!

TAT - Ankara
The expected result came out of the ballot boxes of the referendum held on April 24 in Cyprus. The international law has been violated and a 9,000-page political blueprint, on which both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides failed to reach an agreement, has been presented to the public.
Both parties have been asked two questions - whether they accept the Annan plan or not and whether they would like to enter the European Union or not. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) public's 64.91% voted 'yes' and 35.09% voted 'no' and said 'yes' to these questions. On the other hand, the Greek Cypriot side said 'no' with 75.85% 'no' votes and 24.15% 'yes' votes. Contrary to the logic of the voting, although the Greek Cypriot side said 'no' the EU membership, they'll be rewarded on May 1, 2004 by the EU accession. On the other hand, some US and EU finance institutions state that they may have some fiscal assistance to the side voting 'yes.' We're going to see the decree of their honesty over this issue in the following days. However, it's not possible for the EU to give a decision in favor of the TRNC public as it may face the Greek Cypriot side's veto. The US may have some initiatives in terms of the TRNC but we should not thrust it so much since such initiatives would remain with the US's usage of the Cyprus's port and airports in the scope of the Greater Middle East Project. In other words, TRNC may be kept far from the EU due to the Greece's and the Greek Cypriots' attitude and especially the northern geography will be pushed into the US's field of act. This game is being played as a result of the scenario written by the US while the color of the votes were certain before the referenda.
This is the US's gaining. Besides, we're interested in Turkey's gaining and losses. Turkey has psychologically eased with a 'yes' vote in the north and a 'no' vote in the south. For the first time, this government (Justice and Development Party) has obeyed the Cyprus pressure and threats against Turkey and gambled on yes-no and an expected result has been gained as a result of this gambling. The unjust claim of discordance said for TRNC and Turkey has been loosened. Certainly, this is the psychological gaining in the international field. It's not possible to reject these. However, what would Turkey gain in its EU path? Would Turkey's EU membership be accepted by the EU Commissions, to which Greek Cypriot side and Greece are members? While the United Nations Security Council resolutions are obvious, would TRNC's recognition be possible? What would be Turkey's gaining without these? All these questions have to be answered correctly.
Speaking of the losses; we think that Turkey is face to face with a greater danger. When Turkey's negotiation date will be discussed in December 2004, the Cyprus dispute will be put on agenda again and will ask to step bank from the Annan plan, which TRNC voted 'yes' as the Turkish side, by voting 'yes', has said that it has given up its sovereignty, state and accepted handing soil to the Greek Cypriot side with 69 villages and Guzelyurt and Erenkoy. It has also said that it accepted the withdrawal of the Turkish troops and that Turkey's guarantor status would be adequate under the EU norms. This has been with the public's voting. In this condition, plans for solution will start from this point whether it's under the UN or the EU umbrella. The Greek Cypriot side and especially Papadopoulos pointed out to this issue before and after the voting. He said that they're not against solution but against the current version of the Annan plan and convinced their public to this. He has established his policy on making more concession than the Turkish side. We wished that Turkey and the TRNC could see it and voted 'no' to the Annan plan. The Turkish side could find chances to stand straight against the new plans to be submitted under the UN umbrella even if sides do not include a plan on the agenda in the following days. At present, Turkey and TRNC public is face to face with paying a higher price of the government's yes-no gambling. In the following days, these dangers will be written and discussed.
The Turkish Cypriot public's mind is thickened. We wish that this voting would be beneficial for peace and the parties would not want to have a political gaining as there's peace and welfare in Cyprus despite everything.