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Stormy start to DISY Turkey trip
By Jean Christou


OPPOSITION right-wing DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades yesterday flew into a storm of controversy on the first day of a key visit to Ankara after suggesting Turkey should withdraw some of its troops from Cyprus.

Anastassiades made the comments on the eve of his visit in an interview with Milliyet newspaper. Yesterday, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul – who is due to meet Anastassiades – described the remark as “ugly and inappropriate”.

Anastassiades also told Milliyet he expected Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to contribute to efforts for a Cyprus solution.

It was Erdgoan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that invited Anastassiades and a DISY delegation to Ankara for discussions within the framework of co-operation within the European People’s Party.

Anastassiades told the interview: “There are certain points that worry our people, for example security. There is lack of trust that comes from our past history.

“We expect that once Turkey becomes a full EU member the island will be completely demilitarised. However, in this process the more troops withdraw in the meantime the better.

“We have other concerns as well. I will convey all this to Erdogan. I expect that I will find a good listener.”

Anastassiades described the Turkish Prime Minister as “a leader who has vision, and struggles to secure the best for his country”.

He also praised the AKP stance on the Cyprus issue, but said the ruling party would have to overcome those in the Turkish military who did not want a solution.

“The impression in Europe is that the generals play a greater role than the politicians, and that there is a deep state. I am not against the army.

However, their role should not be ruling the country, their role should be to defend the country in line with government policies,” he said.

“Sometimes a single phrase by a general is enough to shake and destroy the policy established by governments, which is the result of years of hard struggle.

“It is a good excuse to say that ‘the Greek Cypriots, by rejecting the Annan plan, have rejected the withdrawal of the Turkish troops’ but do we need the army to protect us? Instead of saying ‘I will not withdraw a single soldier’, the generals could make a gesture and say ‘I am withdrawing a few thousand troops’. This kind of gesture will be both appreciated by Europe and it will create major trust for the Greek Cypriot community.”

But Gul said yesterday there was no difference of opinion between the Turkish government and its military on the issue of troops in Cyprus.

He said he would be informing Anastassiades that “the Turkish military was in Cyprus at the behest of the Turkish Cypriot parliament and government.”
“Turkey has invited him (Anastassiades) as a demonstration of Turkish commitment to an open dialogue and a solution to the Cyprus problem,” said Gul, while reiterating that Turkey would not recognise the Cyprus Republic until after a solution was reached.

Speaking before his departure yesterday, Anastassiades said the delegation would take the concerns and worries of the Greek Cypriot to the Turkish leadership.

“DISY is the carrier of what every Cypriot would like the leadership in Ankara to listen to,” he said.

DISY was invited to Ankara as part of the AKP’s efforts to promote its relations with the European People’s Party, of which DISY is a member.
Anastassiades will be meeting both Erdogan and Gul, along with other AKP officials. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will also receive the delegation in Istanbul.

Anastassiades said his talks in Turkey would focus on the relations between DISY and the AKP, the Cyprus problem, Cyprus’ accession to the EU and the European Councils decision to open accession talks with Turkey.

“A European Cyprus must pursue dialogue, we believe that Turkey’s European perspective, the efforts made by the Turkish Prime Minister, must be helped in order to have positive results,” said Anastassiades.

Later yesterday Anastassiades was due to give a lecture at the Istanbul Policy Centre, where he was due to express the Greek Cypriot side’s commitment to reach a solution on the basis of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation, and to express DISY’s support for Turkey’s EU accession.

Commenting on the DISY visit, President Tassos Papadopoulos said Anastassiades was free to air the views of his own party in Ankara. He said he hoped these would be in line with the convergence of views expressed by the National Council.

“If Anastassiades can improve Turkey’s relations with the EU, then this would be welcome,” he added.