Results Of The First Round In Cyprus

SABAH- Columnist Metin Munir writes on the first round of the dialogue ongoing in Cyprus between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. A summary of his column is as follows:
The first round of the peace talks in Cyprus is over. The negotiation table means the last test the Greek Cypriots have to pass to be admitted to the EU. They can win this test in two ways; they may either unite the island coming to an agreement with the Turkish Cypriots or if this is not possible, they can lay the blame of its failure on the shoulders of the Turkish Cypriots. The EU has no problem in admitting a united country into the organization. The Greek Cypriots have done and are all doing all that is required of them to be admitted into the Union. The only setback for their being a member is that the Island is divided and this bears a potential danger of clashes. Only this can obstruct a unanimous vote for the acceptance of the Greek Cypriots into the EU. However there are ways for the Greek Cypriots to overcome this obstacle. They may convince the whole world that notwithstanding their efforts to find a solution to the problem, Turks have hampered finding a solution to the problem. Brussels would not want to punish the Greek Cypriot side, which would seem to have done all it can to find a solution. Therefore, if the negotiations fail to reach an agreement, it would be very important for them that everyone knows that the responsibility for the blame does not lie with them. That is why the Greek Cypriots are sending a copy of all the documents to the European Union and United Nations officials. Greek Cypriots are giving the open message that they are playing with open cards. In order to show that they are exerting every effort to reach an agreement at the end of the negotiations they are sending a copy of the documents of proposals they are bringing to the table. The results achieved until today show that the proposals brought forth by the Turkish side did not suffice to establish the minimum conditions for a unitary state required by the EU candidacy. If Turkish proposals are accepted, there will be two states and the organs of the joint state will be insufficient to carry out the requisitions of the EU membership. Therefore, these proposals will be rejected not only by the Greek Cypriots, but also by the EU. Dialogue between Denktas and Clerides seems to pass behind closed doors but all the concerned parties are aware of what is going on. In other words, Denktas is conducting talks not only with the Greek Cypriots, but also with the EU and the US.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION