Cyprus-Forum.com

[Oracle]

Their rhetorical emphasis might be different but it all boils down to the same thing. All the Turks from Denktash to Talat to Eroglu only want Cyprus for themselves. Either by increased association with Turkey or by feigning "independence" from Turkey; they just want Cyprus!

Since the days of the "small" enclaves which sprung up with the arms of the TMT, to the present coalesced version engulfing nearly half our island, partition by grab has been the one collective desire of all the Turks of Cyprus!



Cyprus Future Hangs on Northern Presidential Poll

Nathan Morely | Nicosia 12 April 2010

People in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are expected to turn out in large numbers to vote in an election this week pitting the ruling pro-solution president against a candidate who wants closer ties with Turkey.

This tiny enclave, known as the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, was proclaimed in 1983, yet was not recognized by the United Nations and reluctantly recognized by Turkey

It was born out of a bloody division Cyprus in 1974, when Turkey invaded the northern part of the island, in response to a military coup that was backed by the Greek government.

It boasts a democratically elected parliament, flies its own flag and even issues its own passports.

But its very existence is dependent on Turkey and, now, Ankara has good reason to regret the declaration of independence -- Cyprus has become a thorn to Turkey's European Union ambitions.

Turkish occupation of the territory, backed up by 35,000 troops, is seen as a major stumbling block in their flagging accession negotiations.

The lack of political recognition of Northern Cyprus has also meant that Turkey bankrolls its existence, because it is impossible for northern Cyprus to negotiate loans and assistance from international donors.

The enclave maintains communication channels with the EU, United States and Arab world.

The founding father of northern Cyprus, Rauf Denktash, has towed one line -- that Northern Cyprus must remain independent.

He firmly believes that success at the current negotiations would destroy the state and see the collapse of his Turkish Cypriot enclave.

"I brought my people from a colonial community to be the masters of a state and if they cannot keep it and give it up, I still hope they will remember and say, but for stupidity we would have been a separate state today, safe and sound," he said.

Mr. Denktash has been widely vilified as being the reason that so many peace attempts have failed and the status quo remains unchanged.

Former Greek Cypriot President George Vassiliou, recalled his time negotiating for Cyprus peace in a 2005 VOA interview.

"Mr. Denktash has never wanted a solution. He always wanted partition of the island," he said. "Because, when I was president between 1988-1993, I had spent more hours negotiating with Mr. Denktash than anybody else. And I can tell you, the way Mr. Denktash speaks, his approach, his attitude -- is really difficult to understand for a rational person, because he keeps on claiming that he wants to have independence, he wants to have a separate state and so on. And, he does not care at all about what the world says," said Vassiliou.

Mr. Denktash may have been off the political radar for five years, but his legacy is more evident than ever. Northern Cyprus is marked as Turkish territory in every school history book and atlas.

Streets and boulevards are named after the founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, and there are monuments to Turkish heroes all over this tiny enclave.

For northern Cyprus, the Turkish motherland is a constant theme.

The island's dividing line opened for the first time in 2003, after the easing of border restrictions, which was followed by an attempt at a negotiated solution in 2004. This collapsed when Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of a United Nations settlement plan which was rejected by Greek Cypriot voters.

In April 2005, Mehmet Ali Talat of the center-left Republican Turkish Party won a convincing victory in presidential elections by promising to bring northern Cyprus out from the cold.

But, for all of his efforts, which have seen a marked warming in relations with Greek Cypriots, peace appears to be as elusive as ever.

The talks are now on hold as Mr. Talat prepares for a tough challenge from hardliner Dervis Eroglu.

The tragedy of division has been so huge that smaller tragedies. like unemployment, rising crime and disillusionment with the state, have been lost amidst it all.

It is obvious from a brief look at northern Cyprus, that the country is very poor and the day-to-day woes of the population have been seized upon by Eroglu, who is enjoying massive support.

Analysts say a win for Eroglu, a politician moulded in the Denktash form, would prompt a further attempt to legitimize the breakaway state and try to make it acceptable to the world community.

It is a point Eroglu went to lengths to stress in a VOA interview last year.

"Turkish Cypriots are starting to get fed up with this whole negotiating process and they are losing interest," he said. "People are more bothered about economic problems, their daily life, they do not ask anymore about the talks. If we cannot use this last chance, Turkish Cypriots will start to think only about their own state," Eroglu said.

There is little doubt that an Eroglu win would be a huge blow to the current United Nations peace efforts, but could also eventually lead to the Denktash dream of a permanently partitioned island.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/eu ... 12029.html

[YFred]

It's not just Cyprus's future that depends on the elections in the TRNC, but the future of Turkey itself. If Eroglu wins, the Military will gain the upper hand and it's goodby to AKP. God help us all, after that.

[DTA]

It's not just Cyprus's future that depends on the elections in the TRNC, but the future of Turkey itself. If Eroglu wins, the Military will gain the upper hand and it's goodby to AKP. God help us all, after that.

Why do you say that? what are your feelings about the AKP? they seem to make all the right noises but a lot of people believe that they are hiding another agenda what do you think?

[YFred]

It's not just Cyprus's future that depends on the elections in the TRNC, but the future of Turkey itself. If Eroglu wins, the Military will gain the upper hand and it's goodby to AKP. God help us all, after that.

Why do you say that? what are your feelings about the AKP? they seem to make all the right noises but a lot of people believe that they are hiding another agenda what do you think?

I don't think they have a hiden agenda. They are conservative which means their religion is money. If there is money in it, they will want to join the eu. This talk of special relationship is a non-strater. They already have that by being in the customs union. It's full memebership they are after.
The real worry is the military and the ergenekon group. Eroglu winning will give the upper hand to AKP's enemies. It is rather a worrying time I am afraid. Let's hope AKP can hold on to power despite Eroglu.

[DTA]

It's not just Cyprus's future that depends on the elections in the TRNC, but the future of Turkey itself. If Eroglu wins, the Military will gain the upper hand and it's goodby to AKP. God help us all, after that.

Why do you say that? what are your feelings about the AKP? they seem to make all the right noises but a lot of people believe that they are hiding another agenda what do you think?

I don't think they have a hiden agenda. They are conservative which means their religion is money. If there is money in it, they will want to join the eu. This talk of special relationship is a non-strater. They already have that by being in the customs union. It's full memebership they are after.
The real worry is the military and the ergenekon group. Eroglu winning will give the upper hand to AKP's enemies. It is rather a worrying time I am afraid. Let's hope AKP can hold on to power despite Eroglu.

Do you think Cyprus is such an important issue in Turkey still, I mean important enough to derail erdogan

[YFred]

It's not just Cyprus's future that depends on the elections in the TRNC, but the future of Turkey itself. If Eroglu wins, the Military will gain the upper hand and it's goodby to AKP. God help us all, after that.

Why do you say that? what are your feelings about the AKP? they seem to make all the right noises but a lot of people believe that they are hiding another agenda what do you think?

I don't think they have a hiden agenda. They are conservative which means their religion is money. If there is money in it, they will want to join the eu. This talk of special relationship is a non-strater. They already have that by being in the customs union. It's full memebership they are after.
The real worry is the military and the ergenekon group. Eroglu winning will give the upper hand to AKP's enemies. It is rather a worrying time I am afraid. Let's hope AKP can hold on to power despite Eroglu.

Do you think Cyprus is such an important issue in Turkey still, I mean important enough to derail erdogan

It is not Cyprus that is at issue, it's the EU. There are powerful interests in Turkey who do not want to join the eu and are using Cyprus for their purposes. If the Cyprus talks do not produce results, the EU aspirations will go the same way and AKP will not be able to survive without pogress in the eu negotiations.

[aussieturk]

Oracle, you are correct.

[runaway]

Next week I'll visit Azerbaijan. It will be nice to be in another Turkic country. Thank God all Turks are the same! Long live Türkiye-Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti-Azerbaycan.