Cyprus-Forum.com

[brother]

 



Let Greek Cypriots veto Turkey!

Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos is playing a very interesting game. If you ask the Greek Cypriots, this is the greatest game of chess in the strategic arena for years. Diplomatic sources in Brussels say that the Greek Cypriot leader is involved in a very risky adventure he knows he cannot win. I say this: it is a game of aggressive thieves.

The problem at the heart of the matter is the fact that Greek Cypriots are demanding certain guarantees be implemented by Turkey of which they want listed in the Dec. 17 European Union summit declaration.

According to EU officials who briefed me on the issue, Greek Cypriots are not, in fact, against the start of negotiations with Turkey. What they want is for the EU to ask Turkey to implement certain policies during the negotiations and include these demands in the summit's decision. Among these are the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island and Turkey lifting certain restrictions imposed upon Greek Cyprus. A list of 15 such articles is doing the rounds in EU capitals.

If what I was told is true, Greek Cypriots are openly blackmailing the EU. They are threatening to veto the Dec. 17 summit decision if their demands are not met.

The Greek Cypriot leadership argues that they are forced to issue such demands because of its responsibilities towards its people. They say that if they fail to get solid assurances from the EU on issues such as official recognition by Turkey, such matters would be left until after the negotiations and they argue that it would be too late. If you put yourself in their shoes what they say makes some sense. They are saying: "Turks should understand that they will have to recognize Greek Cyprus during the negotiations and lift certain restrictions. If not, we will be forced to suspend negotiations."

Actually, Greek Cypriot requests are approved by some EU member states. This argument will provide another excuse to block the negotiations. That is why the dialogue between those EU countries appears to be trying to appease the Greek Cypriots and those who are angry with the temerity of the Greek Cypriots.

EU countries should not be so naive

If the Greek Cypriots succeed in including their demands in the EU summit declaration, this will mean the bankruptcy of the union's Cyprus policy and its replacement with a policy of blackmail.

Wasn't the EU itself to blame for the collapse of the Cyprus talks?

What was on the mind of the EU when it begun the negotiations with Greek Cypriots and made them full members?

They intended to force both sides to reach an agreement and accept the entire island as a full member. They had worked hard to create a united Cyprus. Greek Cypriots had told them from the very beginning that they wanted to become EU members together with Turkish Cypriots.

We all know the rest.

Turks accepted the EU's demands and voted in favor of a united Cyprus. Papadopoulos waged a campaign to refuse the EU's proposal and he took a stance against EU demands. Despite this, he utilized the agreements made earlier and made his country an EU member while the Turkish Cypriots, who trusted and believed in the EU, were omitted.

That was not all.

EU officials, the United Nations secretary-general and all the EU capitals accused the Greek Cypriots of deceiving them and declared that the north of the island could not remain isolated. They pledged to lift the embargoes on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC).

But they did nothing. Greek Cypriots were able to utilize legal measures to annul the EU's decisions. Turks were punished because they believed in and respected EU policies.

If that wasn't enough, the Greek Cypriots are now trying to bluff their way through getting more for what they already have.

Are they trying to test the EU's capacity to be victimized through blackmail or are they trying to win the support of some countries that are against Turkey. If there is one thing I do know: it is a fact that the Greek Cypriots are openly committing theft.

EU should force Greek Cypriots to use their veto

If the EU wants to prevent Turkey from becoming a member no matter what, it should by all means cave in to the Greek Cypriot blackmail because no Turkish government, especially the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), will accept an EU that adheres to all the Greek Cypriot wishes.

Alternatively, if the EU has even a semblance of common sense and desires to show the Greek Cypriots the true worth of their veto card, they should call Papadopoulos's bluff.

[metecyp]

Can you please not double post? It's annoying to wait for a page to open and then see that it's something already posted.

[Piratis]

Brother, while it is absolutely apparent that the above was written by a Turk, it would be better to give your sources (and maybe a link) when posting such things.

Other that that not many comments. Just another Turk that thinks that all Europeans are crazy about having Turkey in the union and Cypriots threaten to destroy this dream of Europeans.
Why don't they wake up and realize that the only ones who are going to loose their sleep if Cyprus vetos is Turks themselves and nobody else in EU (ok ok, maybe the leadership of UK also)

[-mikkie2-]

I believe this article appeared in the Turkish Daily News and written by M A Birand.

Turkey is in denial. They are the ones making demands from the EU! It is Turkey wishing to join the Union, not the EU wishing to join Turkey!

[brother]

Thanks mikkie, sorry people will try and make sure i add where i saw the article.