Cyprus-Forum.com

[Tim Drayton]

The following article (translated by me) appeared in today's issue of the Turkish left-wing daily Bir Gün:

The problem will be solved using a ‘gas-fired’ road map

Diplomatic traffic has speeded up in the “Cyprus Problem” of around half a century’s standing. The leaders on both shores of the island are readying themselves for talks that are set to start soon to find a settlement to the problem. It is envisaged that the Turkish and Greek leaders will come together on 4 November in Cyprus, where UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon says, “There is a window of opportunity for a settlement.”

The traffic has been speeded up by Eastern Mediterranean natural gas. The EU and USA want the problem to be solved to secure the gas. It is apparent from the statements of US and United Nations officials, and subsequently those of the EU, that the attempt will be made to solve the Cyprus problem using a ‘gas-fired’ road map. The expected peace and settlement process has been pencilled in for the spring of 2014. However, despite all of the optimistic atmosphere, it is a fact that the negotiations will proceed with great difficulty and the parties will maintain their differences of opinion on various issues.

THE ICE IS MELTING

The Annan Plan, which was put to the vote in 2004, was perceived as being a huge step in the direction of a solution. The traffic of negotiations, which remained intense until 2008, first slowed down and then virtually ceased. The Cyprus problem was more or less put on deep freeze. The problem began to thaw with the heat of the natural gas deposits discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean.

As a result of the exploratory drilling started at Israel’s initiative, there are believed to be natural gas reserves in excess of three billion cubic metres in the Eastern Mediterranean. This huge figure is of great interest to Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Cyprus, the borders of whose Exclusive Economic Zones stretch into the Eastern Mediterranean. There is no chance of all of these countries acting together and agreeing. Just at this point, the USA and UN have come on the scene and proposed that steps be taken for a tripartite solution. Israel, Turkey and Cyprus.

GAS HAS FIRED UP A SOLUTION

In the Cyprus problem, there are serious issues that need to be overcome. These problems have been under negotiation for years. But, in these days when there is talk of a settlement being nigh, nobody speaks of them. Given billions of cubic metres of gas and the serious economic consequences of this, the chronic problems in the Cyprus problem may be reduced to mere details.

TRANSVERSE TALKS FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAYS

The first coming together with regard to the Cyprus problem took place at the UN in New York. The next coming together is expected to be after the holidays. The transverse traffic of negotiations between Turkey, Greece, South Cyprus and North Cyprus will be organised by UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon’ Cyprus Representative, Alexander Downer.

According to the plans, TRNC President Derviş Eroğlu’s special representative, Osman Ertuğ, and the Greek Cypriot sector’s leader Nikos Anastasiades’ negotiator, Andreas Mavroyannis, will make visits on the same day. Ertuğ will go to Athens and Mavroyannis will come to Ankara. Following this stage, it is planned for the talks to continue in a 4+1 manner with the additional participation of the United Kingdom. It is envisaged to bring the Cyprus problem to an end with a referendum to be held in both communities in March.

***
LEFT: “Yes to a solution; no to intervention”

Asım Akansoy (Republican Turkish Party-United Forces General Secretary): It is encouraging that talks are resuming. The only matter of sensitivity for us in the talks is for the existence and representation of the Turkish Cypriot people to be taken into account. The time has now come for political will to find expression in a decision. Having sat down with courage and decisiveness, a decision will be taken and the problem solved. Things have come to this stage. There remains nothing that has not been discussed; a move must now be made.

Murat Kanatlı (New Cyprus Party General Secretary): We as the New Cyprus Party support the existing terms and the talks aimed at a solution. We will fight for the making of an agreement that will solve the problem within the framework of decisions previously agreed on and for this agreement to have a basis in democracy, the supremacy of law and prohibiting ethnic discrimination.

Abdullah Korkmazhan (United Cyprus Party General Secretary): The USA and other imperialist forces are not out to reunite Cyprus and broker a solution that favours Cypriots. What interests them is to continue to use Cyprus as an ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ and to use natural resources such as petrol and natural gas for their own benefit.

Hasan Yıkıcı (Baraka Culture Centre): The peoples of Cyprus, whose fate throughout history has been determined by imperialist forces and occupiers, are also being made passive and robbed of their volition in this issue. Undoubtedly, we are for a settlement and peace. Nobody can expect us to be against the setting up of a negotiating table. But at this table, it is not the interests of imperialists, but the demands of two peoples exhibiting the will to live together that must come to the fore. Any other state of affairs cannot be put forward as a solution. Let nobody expect us to abandon the values we have struggled for in the name of transient, fleeting successes.

http://birgun.net/haber/sorun-gazli-yol ... -5385.html

[Lordo]

you see tim, this sort of shows how delusional our gcs have been since they found out about gas. they can just sit at the table till the gas runs out and then they will think about it. hell you will. there is no gas unless there is an agreement. when will you bloody wake bloooooooooody up.

[Demonax]

you see tim, this sort of shows how delusional our gcs have been since they found out about gas. they can just sit at the table till the gas runs out and then they will think about it. hell you will. there is no gas unless there is an agreement. when will you bloody wake bloooooooooody up.

Lordo gets it wrong again. The issue for Turkey is that without a Cyprus solution then it gets no access to gas from Israel or Cyprus or anywhere in the East Med. Meanwhile the gas is coming out of the sea whether Turkey likes it or not. Too many interests at stake, you see Lordo. Now do you get it?

[Tim Drayton]

you see tim, this sort of shows how delusional our gcs have been since they found out about gas. they can just sit at the table till the gas runs out and then they will think about it. hell you will. there is no gas unless there is an agreement. when will you bloody wake bloooooooooody up.

I am just the messenger, old boy. I think that the significant thing is that an article of this kind is appearing in the Turkish press, albeit a somewhat marginal paper, at all.

[Pyrpolizer]

Thank you for your time in translating the article and presenting it to us Tim.

Imo we live in a place which is full of crooks at all levels of the society and Government. And this includes both the Kypreoi and the Kibrilis. The article talks for 3 billion cum (i think it should be trillion) nevertheless the quantities are not really "huge" all in all the Aphrodite block will deliver a 17 billion Euro profit over many years until it is exhausted. First they will use this money to pay the Debts to Troika (may i remind everybody that the debt of Ex Laiki Bank alone is 9 billion currently loaded on BOC and set aside sleeping and waiting). And then start a new party amongst new and old crooks-better say hyenas

[Tim Drayton]

I share your scepticism about the so-called natural gas bonanza, but even if there is enough to pay off Cyprus' debts and start again with a clean sheet, that will be something.

Even so, there are a lot of rumours floating around of a new externally imposed settlement supposedly on the way. I just wonder if there is any substance to them.

[boulio]

any details of this plan Tim?

[Tim Drayton]

any details of this plan Tim?

It seems to be what the above article is talking about. As I say, it is just rumours flying about,and I have heard no details.

[Flying Horse]

I've said many times it will be the world that decides the fate, and not the two sides or indeed Turkey with its two faced, two edged twisting of the knife.

Only because my eyes are wide open and my tin hat firmly on my head