cannedmoose wrote:Why until 1982, what do you think changed at that point? Do you think the declaration of TRNC in '83 changed his mindset? Do you think he simply saw himself and TRNC as one and the same and became obstinate as a result? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.
P.S. Yay, this is my 500th post!
As far as I understood form what I've read about the Cyprus problem and the approaches of Denktash. Most of the times Denktash felt himself frustrated by GC leadership. He felt himself frustrated by Makarios in 1963-74 period. He felt himself frustrated by Kyprianou in 1977- 1982 period.
The Turkish-Cypriot attitude to the Interim Agreement' proposal.
Throughout the 1980s the Turkish Cypriots were under the leadership of Rauf Denktash, a fact very much reflected in the intercommunal talks and in the attitude of Turkish Cypriots to the Interim Agreement proposal. The fundamental issue for the Turkish Cypriot leadership was the nature of the federal government in any given proposal. It argued that 'federation must be built from the basis of the existing two de facto administrations and that Cyprus should be a "decentralised" or "weak", federation with provisions for slow and long-term progress to a customs union and centralised fiscal and economic policy-making.' Obviously, this differed widely from the Greek Cypriots' idea of a centralised federation, which Turkish Cypriots asserted was not a genuine 'federation', because a strong central government would have powers to override the units." This difference sometimes showed itself in a bitter fashion: at one stage Denktash called his opposite number Kyprianou 'a shortsighted Enosis puppet', lacking all qualities of seriousness, responsibility and understanding.
http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/int'l%20 ... '80-86.htm
The reaction of frustrated Denktash shouldn't have been TRNC and allowing more settlers to come Cyprus.
In the 80s, in my opinion; he should have focused on to gradually fulfill the provisions of mutually ratified agreements. In 80s, there wasn't so many settlers and they weren't given citizenships yet. In early 80s an interim bi-communal chamber could have been formed in order to open a way for parliamentarians of both sides to come together, discuss the fulfillment of the provisions of mutually ratified agreements, take decisions and implement them.
I strongly believe that despite the known stance of GC side, if Turkish side had focused upon the solution of the Cyprus problem in boundaries of mutually ratified agreements and UN resolutions; solutions could have been found for some important parts of the problem.
Turkish side shouldn't have retaliated to everything they didn't like about the Hellenic stance. I think, afterwards 1982, Turkish side lost its hopes for a federal reunification and wanted to open a path for recognition as a seperate state. Afterwards 1982, Turkish side acted like a seperate state without taking into consideration the concequences of such stance.
On the other hand Turkish side kept negotiating the UN proposals in frame of its own solution thesis and its own interpretation based on mutually ratified agreements and UN resolutions. Everything proposed by UN and GC side that were interpretated/considered out of the frame of Turkish solution thesis, mutually ratified agreements and UN resolutions rejected by turkish side.
Conclusion:
1- Self-Proclamation of TRNC was a wrong step. There's no need for changing the name of Cyprus Turkish Federated State to TRNC. Self-Proclamation of TRNC created negative impressions on relevant parties and international public opinion.
2- Turkish side couldn't effectively defend its solution thesis. As I stated above there were many things Turkish side was able to do. At least, Turkish side was able to propose many things in frame of mutually ratified agreements. Perhaps the proposals of Turkish side would have been rejected by GC side but Turkish side would have shown its willingness to solve the problem. To the contrary of these, Denktash and his team had most of the times been seemed like the intrasigence side. It's true that Hellenic lobby had a huge role of creating such a negative international impression about Denktash and Turkish side but it was Denktash's and Turkey's wrong policies that provided the propaganda material for the Hellenic lobbyists to exagerrate the events, distort the facts in order to achieve their own goal.
The irrational steps taken by the Cyprus problem solution team of Turkish side caused a big damage on TC communal cause.
1- %9 of the land should have been given back to GC administration right after the ratification of summit agreements in 1977. If Turkish side gave %9 of the occupied land back to GC administration, it would have resolved a part of land ownership and refugees issues.
2- The settlers shouldn't have been given the GC properties for free. The GC properties should have been rented to settlers with the market prices of the North. Such a measure would have stopped most of the settlers to rush to North.
3- In 80s Turkish side should have focused upon to study and make suggestions concerning some important issues:
a- Gradual return of a certain number of GC refugees, according to mutually ratified agreements.
b- Pro-active, effective arguments to create an international public opinion for lifting the embargos imposed upon TC community.
c- Bi-lateral reduction of military power on both sides of the Island.
d- Exchange of properties.
The things I've stated above could also have been done/suggested by Hellenic side. However put aside Hellenic side taking such practical steps, suggesting some practical solutions on some specific issues; they pushed Turkish side to a more draconian point by following a destructive propagandist approach against TC administration and Turkey.
Denktash and his Cyprus problem solution team made many unforgiveable mistakes afterwards 1982. Retaliatory approches have always damaged the interests of all concerned parties but the retaliatory approches of Turkish side afterwards 1982 has damaged the interests of TC community and Turkey more than it has damaged the interests of GC community.
by cannedmoose » Thu Apr 14, 2005 4:18 pm 
