By Jean Christou
THE Brussels-based think tank the International Crisis Group (ICG), which caused a stir last year over its pro-Turkish stance on Cyprus, has slammed President Tassos Papadopoulos as an obstacle to a solution.
“An opportunity for change in Greek Cyprus may emerge if presidential elections in February 2008 produce a more pro-reunification president than the current hardliner, Tassos Papadopoulos,” the new report on Turkey-EU relations said.
“Some Greek Cypriot officials say they believe the same. For now, however, there are few signs of impatience in Greek Cypriot society for reunification with neighbours who are three times poorer and one fifth their number, yet demand political equality.”
The ICG is co chaired by the former European Commissioner for External Relations Christopher Patten and former US Ambassador Thomas Pickering.
Zbigniew Brzezinski, former US National Security Advisor to the President, Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Pat Cox former President of the European Parliament and Joschka Fischer the former German Foreign Minister are members of the ICG executive committee.
The report suggests that the Greek Cypriot idea that “osmosis” can produce a unitary state is unlikely to work. “Turkish Cypriots are applying for Nicosia’s passports to take advantage of EU privileges, not to embrace the Greek Cypriot state,” it said.
It also cites Cyprus as the biggest and most obvious obstacle to any EU attempt to relaunch its Turkey relationship.
“There seems little chance in the short term that Greek Cyprus will genuinely discuss bicommunal, bizonal arrangements. As governments forget the initial shock of how the Greek Cypriot government broke its promise to accept the UN plan, the chance of real EU pressure on Nicosia to compromise is lessening,” the ICG said. “Cyprus remains a daily EU problem, with a potential for real conflict.”
The report recommends to the EU to keep Turkey engaged and asks EU governments to form a group of friends of north Cyprus “to reassure Turks there of their connection to Europe and consider new steps to intensify contacts in the framework of the EU-backed UN settlement process”
It suggests to Cyprus to set out realistic political goals “that acknowledge a compromise with the Turkish Cypriots will require sacrifice by the Greek Cypriots as well.
“Recognise that reunification of the island is only possible through the UN bicommunal, bizonal process and explain this to the Greek Cypriot population.
Welcome EU initiatives to bring Turkish Cypriots closer to the EU, so as to help close the gap between the people on the island and increase the room for political manoeuvre of pro-reform, pro-solution politicians in Turkish Cyprus and Turkey.”
The ICG also makes a suggestion to the US to continue to “reward the Turkish community and administration on Cyprus economically and politically for pro-reunification actions, so as to help allay a feeling in Turkey that the West is irrevocably prejudiced against it.”
The new ICG report was dismissed yesterday by ruling DIKO, which denounced the provocative intervention of “foreign factors” in the internal affairs of Cyprus aimed at removing Papadopoulos. The ICG, a statement said, continued to take up Turkey’s positions on the Cyprus issue.Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2007
Notice how the GC politicians are no different to most GC forum members. Anything that does not suit them is simply ignored and dismissed. Never will they admit to these reports being of a constructive nature and work for a solution
, in effect recognising Indonesia's claim to East Timor. This act outraged many Australians, myself included. East Timor is now an independent republic and the treaty had to be rewritten.
