What do you guys think? Something interesting may happen over the next few days in terms of the dynamic?
..., will Cyprus be the key to a deal with Erdogan
http://www.thelondondailynews.com/obama ... -2674.html
The highly effective Turkish presence at the G20 in London and with the visit of President Obama to Ankara Monday, the speculation in diplomatic circles in Washington is that President Obama is ready to make a deal with Turkey over Cyprus, in exchange for greater co-operation in the Middle East.
The London Daily News who spoke with the delegation of President Erdogan at the G20 hinted that Washington is prepared to support a confederal solution to the Cyprus problem, giving the Turkish north a much more "enhanced role" internationally.
The Turkish north would be allowed to negotiate with international bodies and be allowed to agree bi-lateral agreements with international organisations in this new arrangement.
Sources close to Hillary Clinton the Secretary of State for the United States underlined the significance the US relationship with Turkey and that a "package of agreements" with Ankara had been formulated to allow the US to use Turkeys good relations with Syria and other Islamic states in the region to push for a solution in the Middle East.
Senior Turkish diplomats in London were "pleased and confident" that a deal over Cyprus would be made in Ankara when President Obama makes his first visit to Turkey as President.
In addition the concession made by Turkey to agree to the former Danish Prime Minister as the new Secretary General of NATO has come at a price, again believed to be a greater role for Turkey in the Mid-East talks and an "enhanced role" for the Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus.
The Greek lobby have filed their objections at speculation that the leader of the Turkish north Mr Talat would be meeting Hillary Clinton as a head of state. This is still being organised according to sources close to President Obama during his visit to Turkey.
The Cyprus talks have stalled over disputes over property rights of the Greek Cypriots and the role of the Turkish army in Cyprus. Mr Mehmet Ali Talat is quoted by CNN Turk as saying:
"There is no reason for not concluding this matter. Cyprus issue can be and should be solved by the end of 2009."