scenarios ! ?
A model of balance?
Hugh Pope, the Turkey/Cyprus project director at the International Crisis Group, is of the conviction that there is too much obsession and focus on the issue of what is in compliance with UN parameters in regards to assessing the results of the KKTC elections, while he noted that the definition of parameters is a flexible issue.
“Sometimes, two sides call the same thing with different names and sometimes they call the different things with the same name. As long as Eroğlu is not talking about an independent state, there is no real problem,” Pope told Sunday’s Zaman, when reminded of commentaries arguing that Eroğlu’s opposition to the principle of single sovereignty is equal to opposing UN parameters, which are the grounds for negotiations.
“The key thing is the Turkish position, and the Turkish position has been the same since 2003, which is willingness for solution. So far it has been the Greek Cypriots who appeared uncertain over whether they want a deal or not, and this is the biggest problem,” Pope said.
“It is too early to prejudge Eroğlu’s performance. He already said he will continue talks, and that’s what matters,” Pope added.
While underlining that the principle of single sovereignty has never become a part of the UN parameters regarding Cyprus, Mehmet Hasgüler, an associate professor at Çanakkale 18 Mart University, has another perspective on election results, saying Eroğlu’s presence at the negotiating table can be more advantageous than the previous situation at the table.
“Everybody has described Talat and Christofias as ‘pro-settlement’ from the beginning, forgetting; however, that the latter has actually acted as a ‘Mr.No’,” Hasgüler said, referring to the fact that while Talat’s CTP supported the Annan plan at the time, the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), then led by Christofias, said “no” to the Annan plan.
“Eroğlu had also said ‘no’ to the plan; thus now we have two sides who had both objected to the same plan. Maybe this can offer a model of balance at the table. Moreover, Eroğlu’s presence at the negotiating table will be positive for healing nationalist concerns both in the KKTC and in Turkey. A resolution which would be embraced by Eroğlu is likely to have no problem of ‘national legitimacy’,” Hasgüler, also an expert on Cyprus and the EU at the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), said.
“Such a resolution would also ‘zeroize’ political risks for the [ruling] AK Party [Justice and Development Party] who will face general elections by 2011 because neither the CHP [main opposition Republican People’s Party] nor the MHP [Nationalist Movement Party] would object to a deal blessed by Eroğlu. Thus neither opposition party would be able use the issue as a tool against the ruling party.”
25 April 2010, Sunday
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news- ... cuses.html
