BY MUSTAFA BALBAY
CUMHURIYET)- Developments in Cyprus may be positive from the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) point of view, but they aren’t from Turkey’s viewpoint.
After the Greek side voted no and the Turkish side voted yes in last year’s referendum on the island, Erdogan and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat said that the situation would start developing for the better. However, more than a year has passed and the situation is this: First, the Greek side followed a policy of reducing pressure that could be imposed on them. Then, they turned the pressure onto the Turkish side again!
On the other hand, we can summarize the policy followed by the European Union as follows: Turks are being put under pressure to make the Greek side say yes to a new plan.
Last week Prime Minister Erdogan spent half of his time abroad. He visited Russia and Hungary. In Russia, Erdogan met with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He explained the development like this: ‘It was a very useful tripartite meeting. A new process is beginning. I got positive signals from the Greeks.’
However, two ‘corrections’ followed these remarks. One was from Papadopoulos, who said ‘There is no new process.’ The second came from our Foreign Ministry: ‘The meeting took place informally, and it was not an official one. Papadopoulos’ proper interlocutor is TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat.’
We also saw last week what positive signals Erdogan received from the Greek: The Greeks started issuing arrest warrants against the Turks on the ground that they owned real estate in the TRNC that belonged to Greeks before 1974.
Also, it was said that after the referendum, the TRNC’s international isolation would be lifted. It has really happened. It was lifted, and prisons were erected!
It is expected that Erdogan will meet Annan in June, and Britain will become EU term president in July. It’s said that real developments will be seen then.
But if these developments are like those from the past year, it would be better not to have any at all!