The issue of the divided island republic of Cyprus, and the related dispute between Greece and Turkey, is a major obstacle to Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union. The island has been fought over for centuries, but the present crisis has its roots in the 1960s. The population of Cyprus is a mix of Muslim Turks and Orthodox Greeks. In the latter half of the 20th century, under the terms of the 1959 Treaty of London, Britain, Greece and Turkey shared political responsibility for the stability and security of Cyprus. During the 1960s, tension between the two communities increased, with killings and bloody reprisals. The Turkish minority felt underrepresented and feared that the Greek majority wanted Cyprus to join Greece.Increased intercommunal violence and a coup by extreme right-wing Greek officers of the Cypriot National Guard against the government of President Makarios led Turkish Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit to send troops into Cyprus in 1974.
Turkey considered itself to be acting in accordance with the Treaty of London, in defense of Turkish Cypriot lives and liberty. The Western world saw this as an act of invasion. Stalemate on the ground led to the division of the island into two parts separated by a demilitarized zone. The northern, Turkish part declared itself the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus and was recognized by Turkey. The rest of the world regarded the new state as illegitimate and only recognized the government of the southern, Greek part.
Despite various attempts to reach a political settlement on the island, the 30-year period from 1974 was marked by the old enmity between Greeks and Turks. As Greece is a member of the EU, the Cyprus issue remains a thorn in Turkey’s side, providing ammunition for opponents of its entry to Europe.
In recent years, the relationship between the Cypriot sides has thawed somewhat.
2004 was a very eventful year: A referendum was held on the question of reuniting the island. In a reversal of their previously entrenched positions, the Turkish population voted “yes” to reunification and the Greek population voted “no.” Only time will tell.
Also in 2004 Cyprus joined the EU in spite of the referendum setback. Legally, the entire territory of Cyprus is part of the EU, in spite of the fact that the government in Nicosia cannot control the northern part of the island. The European Commission presented its recommendation on Turkey’s progress toward accession in 2004 along with its paper “Issues Arising from Turkey’s Membership Perspective.” Also in late 2004, the European Council defined its conditions for opening accession negotiations with Turkey. Around 2006 negotiations started. However, the Ankara Agreement, dealing with its ports and airports, seems to have become a sticking point. As a result, the council blocked Turkey’s EU talks.
The situation began to look more positive when in 2008 Dimitris Christofias was elected president of Cyprus. Prospects for the reunification of the island seemed hopeful. Meetings between Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat, president of Northern Cyprus, began. A positive step from these talks was the reopening of the Ledra Street crossing in the heart of the capital, Nicosia. It seemed that a new level of trust had evolved. In 2009, the European Commission published its progress report on Turkey.
Turkey’s chief negotiator for EU accession, Egemen Bağiş, understands the issue from a different perspective and stresses that the core of the Ankara protocol is conditional on the EU opening its traffic to northern Cyprus.
Like any other relationship in conflict, usually the best way to solve it is to allow the two individuals or two parties to speak together and work it out. In this case, the two leaders -- Christofias and Talat -- proceeding with their talks without any interference could lead to resolution.
Turks are not impressed that the Cyprus issue wasn’t treated as an integral part of Greece’s EU accession talks and wonder why it should be a prerequisite for Turkey’s.
As we begin a new year, after nearly four decades of separation and a very long list of failed peace initiatives, both Turks and Greek Cypriots are growing increasingly doubtful that an agreement acceptable to both sides is possible.
There had been hopes that a successful solution would be reached by February 2010. Will it?
Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
