Kikapu wrote:Birkibrisli wrote:While I understand why the RoC government would not want to treat Talat as equal politically,and insist on negotiating with Turkey,I have started to see a big problem in this. If the negotiations are with Turkey the outcome could only be the status quo or something better for Turkey.Why would Turkey agree to a solution which is worse than the status quo for Turkey????
Bir,
I agree with you, that status quo suits Turkey very well. They get to have what they want, which is to have their military presence on the island, even though I do not know for what reason. When they talk about being for their National Interest, what the hell does that mean. Turkey has borders to many other countries and you don't see any Turkish Troops in those countries, aside from chasing the PKK into Iraq now and again, so what threats Cyprus possesses to Turkey, I'll never know. By having Military Power in the North, gives Turkey a major voice in what ever goes on in the "TRNC" government, so I don't know how Independent the TC's really are to make their own decisions, but as it seems to happen at the moment, TC's voice is no different than Turkey's, which is to drag any peace negotiations out as long as possible. This also seems to suit PapaD. I don't know which one of the two sides plus Turkey, are leading the "no- negotiation" Parade.
I'll take this one step further and anyone wants to correct me, please do so. Turkey is all willing to stick her neck out with the EU over the "TRNC" and direct trade, which was promised before the Referendum in 2004. I don't know who exactly made these promises to the "TRNC" to get their "YES" vote on AP, but Turkey is willing (real or not) to play "hardball" with the EU over her own accession to the EU. A direct Trade to the "TRNC" will bring much needed money to the North which will help reduce Turkey's expenses to the North, but one thing I have never heard from any Turkish Politician, that they want Diplomatic recognition from the International Community for the "TRNC". Is it because Turkey does not really want the "TRNC" to be recognised, so that they can continue to have their influence in the "TRNC". They just got rid of one recognised government (RoC) over Northern part of Cyprus, why would they replace it with another.? They also know, any recognition of the "TRNC", is Turkey's death sentence to their EU acceptance. So I think, Turkey is very happy with the way things are. If they can get Direct Trade for the "TRNC" all the better, but I don't think they are too crazy to the idea to let the "TRNC" become recognised.
Kikapu,
Despite the accepted wisdom,Turkey had little interest in Cyprus after 1923 when they signed her away to the British. It was the likes of Denktash who sold the idea of Taksim to Turkey,kicking and screaming.
The TMT was not founded by Turkish help though they came to the party reluctantly.TMT was founded and trained by the British for obvious reasons. The invasion of Cyprus in 1974 was orchestrated by the USA.
Turkey was just a helping hand.The idea was to divide Cyprus between Turkey and Greece and provide strategic stability to the region to suit the USA over Russia.Things went wrong when they failed to kill Makarios,who went to the UN and alerted the world. When the junta in Greece collapsed the game became one sided. Turkey now had to become the occupier on her own...Now it has become a "National pride issue" for Turkey amongst other things as you describe...
But the key to understanding why Turkey will have the status quo or better is this: Cyprus is the pawn which will assure that the EU will never accept Turkey as member. This suits the plans and aspirations of the Erdogan government. They will use Cyprus to get concessions from the Military on other issues close to their heart like the headscarf issue and the Imam/hatip issue (they want graduates of religious schools to be able to attend universities),and electing Gul as President issue,and selling public land to their friends issue,and opening the door to the Islamic capital issue...etc etc. If I can tell these things,so can Mr Papadopoulos and most Cypriot politicians and journalists. That is why I am now convinced that Partition is the done deal. They are not sure how to disclose it yet to the general public in the Republic.
sorry...couldn't resist. 
