Bravo to the EU for tying up Cyprus

The only leader who was after a solution for Cyprus for years in any serious way was M. Ali Talat. So much so that because of his contact with Christofias, the president of the Greek Cypriots, to find a solution, he was announced as a traitor. The strongest criticism came from Derviş Eroğlu. Talat was first in the ascendant in 2004 when he supported the Annan plan. The CTP came to power within the frame of searching for a solution and its leader Talat became president in place of Denktaş. Eroğlu always used to be at a variance with Denktaş because of their personal conflict but they shared the same solid attitude regarding a solution to the Cyprus issue.

During the Annan plan negotiations, Eroğlu opposed the plan as much as Denktaş. Eroğlu does not like to look for a compromise or mutual concessions. For him a solution means the registration of today’s situation or no concessions made. He is a status quo fighter. The Turkish Cypriots pinned great hopes on this plan. They were to become a member of the EU and to be enriched. They were to escape isolation. The EU encouraged the people in northern Cyprus to support the plan and churned expectations. Everything went well until the referendum on April 24, 2004. When the Greek Cypriots said no, it created great disappointment. One reason for the disappointment to go further was that the EU did not keep any of its promises. Parts of the isolation will be lifted, they said É Greek Cypriots will pay for their attitude, they said É We will send help and enrich the north, they said. None of it happened, on the contrary the Greek Cypriots behave as they please. They did not care what anyone said after obtaining full membership. Within time disappointment grew and the CTP paid the bill. This party could fulfill neither solution nor reform expectations.

And in the end it handed power straight into the hands of Derviş Eroğlu. The UBP won the elections without an important presence. Because the people of Northern Cyprus could not punish the European Union they punished Talat’s party. Success is still successÉ what’s important here is the result.

But I was at least expecting our European friends to stop and think for a while, "What did we do wrong?" I know they don’t even care. And some countries among them are very happy. For, with this administration it will be even more difficult to find a solution for the Cyprus issue. The deadlock will tie Turkey’s hands and slow down negotiations even further. See what the famous "win-win" has turned into.

Of course nothing comes easy
We all know that the only reason the CTP lost elections was the Annan referendum and the EU not keeping its word. If the administration party had met other expectations besides a solution, or kept up the economy that is collapsing because of the international economic crisis (!) then maybe it would not have experienced such a defeat. But I’m one of those people who believe that the EU aspect played an important role. Europe’s clumsy politicians and people in Turkey who oppose a Cyprus solution collaborated to change the administration in Turkish Cyprus. Congratulations.

The 50-seat Turkish Cypriot Parliament

w National Unity Party (UBP): 585,015 (44.01 percent) 26 deputy

w Republican Turkish Party (CTP): 387,717 (29.17 percent) 15 deputy

w The Democratic Party (DP): 142,607 (10.73 percent) 5 deputy

w Communal Democracy Party (TDP): 90,837 (6.83 percent) 2 deputy

w The Freedom and Reform Party (ÖRP): 83,841 (6.31 percent) 2 deputy